— thinly , adv. — thinness , n.
/thin/ , adj., thinner, thinnest , adv., v., thinned, thinning .
adj.
1. having relatively little extent from one surface or side to the opposite; not thick: thin ice.
2. of small cross section in comparison with the length; slender: a thin wire.
3. having little flesh; spare; lean: a thin man.
4. composed of or containing objects, particles, etc., widely separated; sparse: thin vegetation.
5. scant; not abundant or plentiful.
6. of relatively slight consistency or viscosity: thin soup.
7. rarefied, as air.
8. without solidity or substance; flimsy: a very thin plot for such a long book.
9. lacking fullness or volume; weak and shrill: a thin voice.
10. without force or a sincere effort: a thin smile.
11. lacking body, richness, or strength: a thin wine.
12. lacking in chroma; of light tint.
13. Photog. (of a developed negative) lacking in density or contrast through underdevelopment or underexposure.
adv.
14. in a thin manner.
15. sparsely; not densely.
16. so as to produce something thin: Slice the ham thin.
v.t.
17. to make thin or thinner (often fol. by down, out, etc.).
v.i.
18. to become thin or thinner; become reduced or diminished (often fol. by down, out, off, etc.): The crowd is thinning out.
[ bef. 900; (adj. and adv.) ME thyn ( ne ), OE thynne; c. D dun, G dünn, ON thunnr; (v.) ME thynnen, OE thynnian, deriv. of the adj.; cf. MD dunnen, ON thynna; akin to OIr tana, L tenuis thin, Gk tany- long ]
Syn. 3. slim, slender, skinny, lank, scrawny. THIN, GAUNT, LEAN, SPARE agree in referring to one having little flesh. THIN applies often to one in an unnaturally reduced state, as from sickness, overwork, lack of food, or the like: a thin, dirty little waif. GAUNT suggests the angularity of bones prominently displayed in a thin face and body: to look ill and gaunt. LEAN usually applies to a person or animal that is naturally thin: looking lean but healthy after an outdoor vacation. SPARE implies a muscular leanness with no diminution of vitality: Lincoln was spare in body. 5. meager. 8. weak.