thinnest
thinnest — adjective
- thinnestpositive
- more thinnestcomparative
- most thinnestsuperlative
1. having two main surfaces that are very close together, so that the object is fla
having two main surfaces that are very close together, so that the object is flat or slight when seen from the side — like a sheet of paper, a playing card, or a single leaf.
Apinya drew thin black lines across the page with a sharp pencil.
thin + [noun]: common attributive pattern for physical objects
The ice on the pond was too thin to walk on safely.
Daichi sliced the cucumber into thin rounds for the salad.
A thin crack ran from the window frame to the ceiling.
Heloísa wrapped the gift in thin gold paper that tore easily.
用法筆記
The most common sense. Use 'thin' for flat things (paper, cloth, slices); use 'narrow' for spaces that are tight from side to side (roads, gaps, corridors). The opposite is 'thick.'
常見錯誤
2. having very little fat on the body, so that bones or muscles are clearly visible
having very little fat on the body, so that bones or muscles are clearly visible — sometimes healthy (an athlete), sometimes a sign of illness or not eating enough.
After the long hike, Devika's face looked thin and tired.
[person] + look + thin: describing someone's appearance
The stray cat was so thin you could count its ribs.
Joshua stayed thin despite eating huge meals every day.
Mira's thin fingers moved quickly across the piano keys.
The doctor said the child was too thin and needed more protein.
- overweight
more formal, used in medical contexts
用法筆記
Describes people and animals, not objects. 'Thin' is neutral but can sound negative; 'slim' and 'slender' are more positive alternatives when you want to be polite.
常見錯誤
3. easy to see through because the material or substance is not dense enough to blo
easy to see through because the material or substance is not dense enough to block light — like a summer curtain, morning mist, or a worn cotton shirt held up to the window.
Imani pulled the thin curtains shut, but the morning sun still shone through.
thin + [fabric/material]: describing translucent quality
A thin mist hung over the river at dawn.
Noor's thin cotton dress was cool in the summer heat.
The fog grew thinner as the sun climbed higher.
Eve wore a thin scarf that did little to block the icy wind.
- sheer
for thin fabrics worn as clothing, often in fashion contexts
- transparent
completely clear; more formal and absolute
- gossamer
literary; for something extremely fine and delicate, like a spider's web
用法筆記
Usually describes fabrics, curtains, mist, fog, or materials like paper and plastic. Distinguish from sense 1 (NOT THICK): a wooden board can be thin without being see-through; this sense adds the idea of letting light pass.
4. having fewer people or things than expected, with lots of space between them — l
having fewer people or things than expected, with lots of space between them — like a handful of shoppers in a large supermarket late at night, or patches of grass on dry soil.
Élise looked around the thin crowd at the Friday market.
thin + [crowd/audience]: describing low density of people
The audience was thin for the opening night of the play.
Tariq's hair was growing thin on top by the age of forty.
Traffic on the motorway was thin after midnight.
Linh noticed that support for the proposal was thin among older staff.
用法筆記
Subject is usually a group, collection, or mass (crowd, audience, hair, traffic). Also appears in the British phrase 'thin on the ground' meaning rare or hard to find. Not used for a single countable thing.
常見錯誤
5. flowing very easily, like water, because the liquid has too little solid content
flowing very easily, like water, because the liquid has too little solid content mixed in — soup that needs more vegetables, paint that drips off the brush, or weak coffee.
The soup was too thin, so Apinya added more vegetables to thicken it.
thin + [liquid/soup/sauce]: describing low viscosity
Devika stirred the thin sauce and decided to let it simmer longer.
The paint was too thin and dripped down the wall in streaks.
Imani prefers thin porridge for breakfast on cold mornings.
The honey became thinner after Joshua warmed it in the microwave.
用法筆記
Subject is always a liquid or semi-liquid: soup, paint, blood, sauce, porridge. This is the liquid-specific opposite of 'thick' (viscous). Don't use for gases or solids.
6. lacking strength, substance, or the power to convince — an excuse that anyone ca
lacking strength, substance, or the power to convince — an excuse that anyone can see through, a story with too many holes, or a smile that hides real feelings poorly.
The evidence against Tariq was thin, and the judge dismissed the case.
thin + [argument/evidence/excuse]: figurative, lacking substance
Daichi's excuse for being late sounded thin and rehearsed.
The movie had a thin plot that left the audience restless.
Eve gave a thin smile that did not reach her tired eyes.
Noor's argument grew thinner each time the professor challenged it.
- solid
for arguments or evidence that hold up under questioning
用法筆記
Common for excuses, arguments, plots, smiles, and disguises — anything that should feel solid or genuine but is easy to see through. Frequently interchangeable with 'weak' or 'flimsy.'
常見錯誤
7. lacking richness and fullness in sound — a voice that comes out high, weak, and
lacking richness and fullness in sound — a voice that comes out high, weak, and a little sharp, like a cheap whistle or the buzz of a mosquito.
A thin, reedy voice called out from the back of the dark hall.
thin + [voice/sound]: describing weak, high-pitched quality
The old radio produced only a thin crackle of static.
Heloísa's voice sounded thin and shaky after hours of talking.
A thin whistle came from the kettle on the stove.
The violin note was thin and sharp, missing its usual warmth.
用法筆記
Almost always used for sounds — voices, musical notes, whistles. Not used for music that is intentionally soft or quiet; it implies a noticeable lack of body. Distinguish from sense 6 (FLIMSY): that sense is for ideas and expressions; this one is purely about sound quality.
thinnest — verb
- thinnestpresent simple I / you / we / they
- thinnests3rd person singular
- thinnesting-ing form
- thinnestedpast simple
1. to add water, milk, or another liquid to a mixture so that it becomes less thick
to add water, milk, or another liquid to a mixture so that it becomes less thick and pours more easily — cooks thin gravy, painters thin colour, and gardeners thin plant food before spraying it on.
Mira thinned the gravy with a splash of hot water from the kettle.
thin + [liquid] + with + [water]: dilution pattern
You can thin the paint slightly so it spreads more smoothly.
Élise thinned the baby's porridge with warm milk before feeding her.
The chef told Linh to thin the dressing with lemon juice.
If the mixture is too stiff, thin it with a little cold stock.
- dilute
more formal; common in both cooking and science labs
- water down
phrasal verb; often negative when used figuratively (e.g. watered-down proposals)
文法句型
thin + [liquid] + with + [water/milk/etc.]
用法筆記
Object is always a liquid or semi-liquid mixture. The liquid you add follows 'with.' Also used without 'with' when the method is obvious: 'Thin the soup before serving.'
常見錯誤
2. if a crowd or group thins, people leave and fewer remain; if you thin plants or
if a crowd or group thins, people leave and fewer remain; if you thin plants or objects, you remove some so the rest have more room to grow or spread.
The crowd began to thin after the fireworks display ended.
thin out: phrasal verb for reducing numbers of people or things
Eve thinned the carrot seedlings so the strongest ones could grow.
Traffic thinned out once we passed the city limits.
The waiter's tips thinned during the slow winter months.
Joshua thinned the apple tree branches to let in more sunlight.
文法句型
thin out (intransitive: crowd/traffic + thins out)
thin out + [plants/seedlings] (transitive)
用法筆記
Very often used with 'out.' Intransitive use is common for crowds and traffic. Transitive use is common for gardening (thinning seedlings, branches, fruit). 'Tips thinned' (example 4) is a less common but natural figurative extension.
3. to become leaner in body, losing fat so that the shape of bones and muscles beco
to become leaner in body, losing fat so that the shape of bones and muscles becomes more visible — sometimes from exercise or diet, sometimes from illness or hard manual work.
Tariq thinned noticeably after six months of running every morning.
intransitive: [person] + thin + [adverb] for body weight loss
The vet said the old dog had thinned too much over the winter.
Apinya's face thinned as she trained for the long-distance swim.
The illness caused the old man to thin rapidly over just a few weeks.
Linh's arms and legs thinned during the hot months on the farm.
- slim down
phrasal verb suggesting intentional, healthy weight loss
- lose weight
the most common everyday way to express this idea
- fill out
to gain weight in a way that looks healthier
- put on weight
general phrase for gaining body mass
文法句型
[person/body part] + thin
用法筆記
Always intransitive. Less common in everyday speech than 'lose weight' or 'slim down.' More often found in descriptive or literary writing. The subject can be a person, an animal, or a body part.
常見錯誤
thinnest — adverb
1. in a way that produces a shallow, slight layer — butter spread so it barely cove
in a way that produces a shallow, slight layer — butter spread so it barely covers the bread, snow that dusts the ground without building up, or morning light that just touches the floor.
Devika spread the butter thin across both slices of warm toast.
verb + thin: adverb follows the verb it modifies
Slice the potatoes thin so they cook quickly in the hot oil.
The snow lay thin on the ground, already melting at the edges.
Imani applied the glue thin and pressed the two pieces firmly together.
The morning light fell thin through the dusty window pane.
文法句型
verb + thin (adverb follows the verb)
用法筆記
Almost always follows the verb it modifies: 'spread thin,' 'slice thin,' 'apply thin.' The form 'thinly' (with -ly) is more common in formal writing, but bare 'thin' as an adverb is natural in everyday instructions and descriptions.