thick · adjective /θɪk/Full view
Nouns: thickness, thick
Adjectives: thick
Verbs: thicken
Adverbs: thickly
thick (NOT THIN)
B1 Something that is thick is larger than usual between its opposite sides.
Dictionary examples:

a thick rope

a thick layer of dust

She picked up a thick volume and began to read out loud.

a thick sweater/coat

The walls are two metres thick.

Learner example:

I have to wear thick clothes. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Arabic)

thick (CLOSE TOGETHER)
B1 growing close together and in large amounts
Dictionary examples:

thick forest

thick dark hair

Learner example:

I was looking [at] a land of moor, m[a]rsh, and thick forest. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Italian)

thick (SMOKE, ETC.)
B2 difficult to see through
Dictionary example:

Thick, black smoke was pouring out of the chimney.

Learner example:

We tried to walk [down] the stairs but the smoke was just getting thicker and thicker so we had to climb up on the roof. (First Certificate in English; B2; Swedish)

thick · noun /θɪk/
Nouns: thickness, thick
Adjectives: thick
Verbs: thicken
Adverbs: thickly
through thick and thin
C2 If you support or stay with someone through thick and thin, you always support or stay with them in easy and difficult situations.
Dictionary example:

She'd stuck by Neil through thick and thin.

Learner example:

Fortunately Carol was strong enough to stand by him through thick and thin and made her dearest husband give up drinking. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Polish)

thick · adverb /θɪk/
thick and fast
C2 quickly and in large numbers
Dictionary example:

Calls were coming in thick and fast by the end of the programme.

Cambridge logo