adj., n., & adv.
adj. 1 closely held, drawn, fastened, fitting, etc. (a tight hold; a tight skirt). 2 closely and firmly put together (a tight joint). 3 (of clothes etc.) too closely fitting (my shoes are rather tight). 4 impermeable, impervious, esp. (in comb.) to a specified thing (watertight). 5 tense; stretched so as to leave no slack (a tight bowstring). 6 colloq. drunk. 7 colloq. (of a person) mean, stingy. 8 a (of money or materials) not easily obtainable. b (of a money market) in which money is tight. 9 a (of precautions, a programme, etc.) stringent, demanding. b presenting difficulties (a tight situation). 10 produced by or requiring great exertion or pressure (a tight squeeze). 11 (of control etc.) strictly imposed.
adv. tightly (hold tight!). tight corner (or place or spot) a difficult situation. tight-fisted stingy. tight-fitting (of a garment) fitting (often too) close to the body. tight-lipped with or as with the lips compressed to restrain emotion or speech. tightly adv. tightness n.
[ prob. alt. of thight f. ON théttr watertight, of close texture ]