/ taɪt; NAmE / adjective , adverb
■ adjective
( tight·er , tight·est )
FIRM
1.
held or fixed in position firmly; difficult to move or undo :
He kept a tight grip on her arm.
She twisted her hair into a tight knot.
The screw was so tight that it wouldn't move.
CLOTHES
2.
fitting closely to your body and sometimes uncomfortable :
She was wearing a tight pair of jeans.
These shoes are much too tight.
The new sweater was a tight fit .
OPP loose
—see also skintight
CONTROL
3.
very strict and firm :
to keep tight control over sth
We need tighter security at the airport.
STRETCHED
4.
stretched or pulled so that it cannot stretch much further :
The rope was stretched tight.
CLOSE TOGETHER
5.
[ usually before noun ] with things or people packed closely together, leaving little space between them :
There was a tight group of people around the speaker.
With six of us in the car it was a tight squeeze .
MONEY / TIME
6.
difficult to manage with because there is not enough :
We have a very tight budget.
The president has a tight schedule today.
EXPRESSION / VOICE
7.
looking or sounding anxious, upset, angry, etc. :
'I'm sorry,' she said, with a tight smile.
—see also uptight
PART OF BODY
8.
feeling painful or uncomfortable because of illness or emotion
SYN constricted :
He complained of having a tight chest.
Her throat felt tight, just looking at her baby.
RELATIONSHIP
9.
having a close relationship with sb else or with other people :
It was a tight community and newcomers were not welcome.
—see also tight-knit
BEND / CURVE
10.
curving suddenly rather than gradually :
The driver slowed down at a tight bend in the road.
The plane flew around in a tight circle.
CONTEST / RACE
11.
with runners, teams, etc. that seem to be equally good
SYN close :
a tight race
NOT GENEROUS
12.
( informal , disapproving ) not wanting to spend much money; not generous
SYN mean :
He's very tight with his money.
DRUNK
13.
[ not usually before noun ] ( old-fashioned , informal ) drunk
SYN tipsy
-TIGHT
14.
(in compounds) not allowing the substance mentioned to enter :
measures to make your home weathertight
—see also airtight , watertight
► tight·ness noun [ U ]
•
IDIOMS
- to keep a tight rein on sb/sth
- run a tight ship
- a tight spot / corner
■ adverb
( tight·er , tight·est ) closely and firmly; tightly :
Hold tight !
My suitcase was packed tight.
His fists were clenched tight.
•
IDIOMS
see sit , sleep verb
••
WHICH WORD
tight / tightly
Tight and tightly are both adverbs that come from the adjective tight . They have the same meaning, but tight is often used instead of tightly after a verb, especially in informal language, and in compounds:
packed tight
•
a tight-fitting lid.
Before a past participle tightly is used:
clusters of tightly packed flowers
.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense healthy, vigorous , later firm, solid ): probably an alteration of thight firm, solid , later close-packed, dense , of Germanic origin; related to German dicht dense, close.