wafer-thin
/ˌweɪfə ˈθɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌweɪfər ˈθɪn/ (ame, ipa)
wafer-thin — adjective
1. so thin that it feels as though it could be torn or broken with very little effo
so thin that it feels as though it could be torn or broken with very little effort
Femi sliced the cucumber into wafer-thin rounds for the salad.
collocation: wafer-thin + [noun] describing food
The old letter was written on wafer-thin paper that tore at a touch.
collocation: wafer-thin paper
Liang’s new phone felt fragile with its wafer-thin metal casing.
A wafer-thin layer of gold leaf covered the surface of the sculpture.
The walls between the apartments were wafer-thin, so Lara could hear her neighbour sneeze.
- paper-thin
almost identical in meaning; paper-thin is slightly more common in everyday speech
- ultra-thin
more technical or commercial; often used for electronics and precision products
- razor-thin
suggests a sharp, precise thinness; also used figuratively for narrow margins (a razor-thin victory)
- thick
opposite end of the thickness scale for objects and materials