Definition of thin

thinadjective

mỏng, mảnh

/θɪn/

Definition of undefined

The word "thin" has a rich etymology. It originates from Old English and Germanic words "þinn" and "thinniz", meaning "weak" or "feeble". This sense of weakness or frailty is still related to its modern meaning of having a small or diminished thickness. In Middle English (circa 1100-1500), the word "thin" developed a new sense, describing something having a small or limited extent, such as a thin layer or a thinly populated area. The modern English word "thin" has retained its primary meanings of describing physical size (small in width or thickness) and figurative thinness (scarcity, lack, or inadequacy).

not thick

having a smaller distance between opposite sides or surfaces than other similar objects or than normal

có khoảng cách nhỏ hơn giữa các mặt hoặc bề mặt đối diện so với các vật thể tương tự khác hoặc hơn bình thường

Example:
  • Cut the vegetables into thin strips.

    Cắt rau thành dải mỏng.

  • A number of thin cracks appeared in the wall.

    Một số vết nứt mỏng xuất hiện trên tường.

  • The body was hidden beneath a thin layer of soil.

    Thi thể được giấu dưới lớp đất mỏng.

  • Palm trees cast long, thin shadows on the lawn.

    Những cây cọ đổ bóng dài và mỏng trên bãi cỏ.

  • He knew that the ice was too thin to risk crossing the river.

    Anh ta biết rằng băng quá mỏng để có thể liều lĩnh vượt sông.

  • a thin blouse (= of light cloth)

    một chiếc áo mỏng (= vải nhẹ)

Extra examples:
  • a plate of wafer-thin bread and butter

    một đĩa bánh mì mỏng và bơ

  • a sliver of rock thin enough to be translucent

    một mảnh đá đủ mỏng để trở nên trong suốt

  • She pinched her thin lips together.

    Cô mím chặt đôi môi mỏng của mình.

  • The wind blew cold through his thin shirt.

    Gió lạnh thổi xuyên qua lớp áo mỏng của anh.

  • Water forms a thin film between the tyre and the road.

    Nước tạo thành một lớp màng mỏng giữa lốp và mặt đường.

Related words and phrases

not fat

not covered with much fat or muscle

không được bao phủ bởi nhiều chất béo hoặc cơ bắp

Example:
  • He was tall and thin, with dark hair.

    Anh ta cao và gầy, có mái tóc đen.

  • She was looking pale and thin.

    Cô ấy trông xanh xao và gầy gò.

  • How do you stay so thin?

    Làm thế nào để bạn luôn gầy như vậy?

  • He is as thin as a rake (= very thin).

    Anh ấy gầy như một cái cào (= rất gầy).

  • thin legs

    chân thon

Extra examples:
  • How do you manage to stay so thin?

    Làm thế nào bạn có thể giữ được vóc dáng thon gọn như vậy?

  • The old horse was painfully thin.

    Con ngựa già gầy đến đau đớn.

Related words and phrases

hair

not growing closely together or in large amounts

không phát triển gần nhau hoặc với số lượng lớn

Example:
  • thin grey hair

    tóc mỏng màu xám

liquid

containing more liquid than is normal or expected

chứa nhiều chất lỏng hơn bình thường hoặc dự kiến

Example:
  • The sauce was thin and tasteless.

    Nước sốt mỏng và không vị.

  • The paint looks a bit thin.

    Nước sơn có vẻ hơi mỏng.

Related words and phrases

smoke

fairly easy to see through

khá dễ dàng để nhìn xuyên qua

Example:
  • They fought their way through where the smoke was thinner.

    Họ cố gắng vượt qua nơi khói mỏng hơn.

air

containing less oxygen than normal

chứa ít oxy hơn bình thường

Example:
  • Humans would not be able to survive in the thin atmosphere of the planet.

    Con người sẽ không thể tồn tại trong bầu khí quyển mỏng manh của hành tinh.

sound

high and weak

cao và yếu

Example:
  • Her thin voice trailed off into silence.

    Giọng nói yếu ớt của cô chìm vào im lặng.

smile

not sincere or enthusiastic

không chân thành hoặc nhiệt tình

Example:
  • He gave a thin smile.

    Anh nở một nụ cười mỏng manh.

light

not very bright

không sáng lắm

Example:
  • the thin grey light of dawn

    ánh sáng xám mỏng của bình minh

poor quality

of poor quality; without an important quality

chất lượng kém; không có chất lượng quan trọng

Example:
  • a thin excuse (= one that people are not likely to believe)

    một lý do mỏng manh (= một lý do mà mọi người không thể tin được)

  • Their arguments all sound a little thin to me.

    Đối với tôi, những lập luận của họ nghe có vẻ hơi mỏng manh.

  • The general standard of applicants is pretty thin this year.

    Tiêu chuẩn chung của ứng viên năm nay khá mỏng.

Extra examples:
  • His knowledge of the country was somewhat thin.

    Kiến thức của ông về đất nước này có phần mỏng manh.

  • The evidence seems awfully thin.

    Bằng chứng có vẻ rất mỏng manh.

Related words and phrases

Idioms

be skating/walking on thin ice
to be taking a risk
disappear, vanish, etc. into thin air
to disappear suddenly in a mysterious way
  • She can’t just have vanished into thin air.
  • At a stroke she could make things vanish into thin air.
    • have a thin time (of it)
    (British English, informal)to have many problems or difficulties to deal with; to not be successful
  • He’s had a thin time of it since losing his job.
    • out of thin air
    from nowhere or nothing, as if by magic
  • Unfortunately, I can’t just conjure up the money out of thin air!
    • spread yourself too thin
    to try to do so many different things at the same time that you do not do any of them well
  • With four markets to manage, there's a danger that's she's spreading herself too thin.
    • thick/thin on the ground
    (British English)if people or things are thick/thin on the ground, there are a lot/not many of them in a place
  • Customers are thin on the ground at this time of year.
  • Security officers were thick on the ground during the King’s visit.
    • the thin end of the wedge
    (especially British English)an event or action that is the beginning of something more serious and/or unpleasant
  • The introduction of a tax on workplace parking is seen by many as the thin end of the wedge.
    • thin/bald on top
    (informal)with little or no hair on the head
  • He's starting to get a little thin on top (= he's losing his hair).
  • He's going bald on top.
    • a thin skin
    the lack of ability to accept criticism, offensive remarks, etc. without becoming upset
  • You shouldn’t be in politics if you have such a thin skin.
    • through thick and thin
    even when there are problems or difficulties
  • He's supported the team for over ten years through thick and thin.
  • In marriage, you have to stick together through thick and thin.
    • walk/tread a fine/thin line (between A and B)
    to be in a difficult or dangerous situation where you could easily make a mistake
  • He was walking a fine line between being funny and being rude.
  • She often seems to tread a thin line between success and failure.
    • wear thin
    to begin to become weaker or less acceptable
  • These excuses are wearing a little thin (= because we've heard them so many times before).
  • My patience is beginning to wear very thin.