(~er, ~est)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Tight clothes or shoes are rather small and fit closely to your body.
His jeans were too ~.
? loose
ADJ
~ly
He buttoned his collar ~ly round his thick neck.
ADV: ADV with v
2.
If you hold someone or something ~, you hold them firmly and securely.
She just fell into my arms, clutching me ~ for a moment...
Hold on ~!
ADV: ADV after v
•
Tight is also an adjective.
As he and Henrietta passed through the gate he kept a ~ hold of her arm.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ly
She climbed back into bed and wrapped her arms ~ly round her body.
ADV: ADV after v
3.
Tight controls or rules are very strict.
The measures include ~ control of media coverage...
Security is ~ this week at the polling sites.
ADJ
~ly
The internal media was ~ly controlled by the government during the war.
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed
4.
Something that is shut ~ is shut very firmly.
I keep the flour and sugar in individual jars, sealed ~ with their glass lids...
She kept her eyes ~ closed.
ADV: ADV -ed, ADV after v
~ly
Pemberton frowned and closed his eyes ~ly...
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed
5.
Skin, cloth, or string that is ~ is stretched or pulled so that it is smooth or straight.
My skin feels ~ and lacking in moisture...
ADJ
~ly
Her sallow skin was drawn ~ly across the bones of her face.
ADV: ADV with v
6.
Tight is used to describe a group of things or an amount of something that is closely packed together.
She curled up in a ~ ball, with her knees tucked up at her chin...
The men came in a ~ group.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
•
Tight is also an adverb.
The people sleep on sun loungers packed ~, end to end.
ADV
~ly
Many animals travel in ~ly packed lorries and are deprived of food, water and rest.
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed
7.
If a part of your body is ~, it feels rather uncomfortable and painful, for example because you are ill, anxious, or angry.
It is better to stretch the ~ muscles first...
= taut
ADJ
~ness
Heart disease often shows itself first as pain or ~ness in the chest.
N-UNCOUNT
8.
A ~ group of people is one whose members are closely linked by beliefs, feelings, or interests.
We’re a ~ group, so we do keep in touch.
= close
ADJ
9.
A ~ bend or corner is one that changes direction very quickly so that you cannot see very far round it.
They collided on a ~ bend and both cars were extensively damaged.
= sharp
ADJ: usu ADJ n
10.
A ~ schedule or budget allows very little time or money for unexpected events or expenses.
It’s difficult to cram everything into a ~ schedule...
Financially things are a bit ~.
ADJ
11.
A ~ contest is one where none of the competitors has a clear advantage or looks likely to win, so that it is difficult to say who the winner will be.
It was a very ~ match...
ADJ
12.
If you say that someone is ~, you disapprove of them because they are unwilling to spend their money. (INFORMAL)
What about getting new ones–Are you so ~ you won’t even spend three roubles?
= ~-fisted, mean, stingy
ADJ disapproval
13.
see also air~ , skin-~
14.
If you are in a ~ corner or in a ~ spot, you are in a difficult situation. (INFORMAL)
That puts the president in a ~ spot if the vote is not a resounding ‘yes’...
PHRASE: usu prep PHR
15.
You can say ‘sleep ~’ to someone when they are going to bed as an affectionate way of saying that you hope they will sleep well.
Good night, Davey. Sleep ~.
CONVENTION
16.
to keep a ~ rein on: see rein
to sit ~: see sit