adj.
Pronunciation: ' ten-y ə -w ə s, -yü- ə s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin tenuis thin, slight, tenuous ― more at THIN
Date: 1597
1 : not dense : RARE <a tenuous fluid>
2 : not thick : SLENDER <a tenuous rope>
3 a : having little substance or strength : FLIMSY , WEAK < tenuous influences> b : SHAKY 2A < tenuous reasons> <on grounds that were tenuous >
synonyms see THIN
– ten · u · ous · ly adverb
– ten · u · ous · ness noun