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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | thynne |
1 if something is thin, there is only a small distance between its two opposite sides or surfaces [≠ thick]: 
a thin gold chainShe's only wearing a thin summer jacket (=a jacket made of light material). two thin slices of bread The road was covered with a thin layer of ice. The skin on the eyelids is the thinnest on the body.
not thick
a thin gold chainShe's only wearing a thin summer jacket (=a jacket made of light material).two thin slices of breadThe road was covered with a thin layer of ice.The skin on the eyelids is the thinnest on the body.2 having little fat on your body [≠ fat]: He was tall and thin, with short brown hair. Most high school girls say they want to be thinner.
not fat
He was tall and thin, with short brown hair.Most high school girls say they want to be thinner.3 if someone has thin hair, they do not have a lot of hair : a thin straggly beard His hair is quite thin on top.
hair
a thin straggly beardHis hair is quite thin on top.4 a liquid that is thin flows very easily because it has a lot of water in it [≠ thick]: thin paint
liquid
thin paint5 smoke or mist that is thin is easy to see through [≠ thick]: The fog is quite thin in places.
smoke/mist
The fog is quite thin in places.6 air that is thin is more difficult to breathe than usual because it has less oxygen in it : the thinner air high in the mountains
air
DNthe thinner air high in the mountains7 a thin excuse, argument, or evidence is not good or detailed enough to be useful or effective : Evidence that capital punishment deters crime is pretty thin.
excuse/argument/evidence etc
Evidence that capital punishment deters crime is pretty thin.8 a very small number or amount of something : Engle beat Blanchard by a razor-thin margin (=a very small number of votes) in the race for governor.
a thin margin/majority etc
Engle beat Blanchard by a razor-thin margin (=a very small number of votes) in the race for governor.9 a thin smile does not seem very happy or sincere : Charlie gave her a thin smile.
smile
Charlie gave her a thin smile.10 a thin voice or sound is high and unpleasant to listen to : His thin voice trailed off.
voice/sound
His thin voice trailed off.11 an expression meaning something that you think is the beginning of a harmful development : Workers believe the job cuts are just the thin end of the wedge.
the thin end of the wedge
British English spokenWorkers believe the job cuts are just the thin end of the wedge.12 if a particular type of person or thing is thin on the ground, there are very few available : Taxis seem to be thin on the ground.
be thin on the ground
Taxis seem to be thin on the ground.13 to be in a difficult situation, especially one in which you do not have enough money
be having a thin time (of it)
British English spoken14 to be in a situation in which you are likely to upset someone or cause trouble : I was on thin ice, and I knew it.
be (walking/treading/skating) on thin ice
I was on thin ice, and I knew it.15 to disappear completely in a mysterious way : Victor and his kidnappers had vanished into thin air.
disappear/vanish into thin air
Victor and his kidnappers had vanished into thin air.16 out of nowhere, as if by magic : It seems like researchers have just pulled the numbers out of thin air.
out of thin air
It seems like researchers have just pulled the numbers out of thin air. ➔ thinly, wear thinWORD CHOICE:
thin, slim, skinny, slender, lean, slightThin is a general word meaning that someone has little fat on their body. It is usually, but not always, disapproving • He's much too thin. • Teenage girls all seem to want to be thin.Slim means thin in an attractive way • her lovely slim figureSkinny is a fairly informal word meaning very thin, which is usually disapproving • ridiculously skinny modelsSlender, lean, and slight are used mostly in written English.Slender means thin in an attractive and graceful way • long slender legsLean means thin and looking strong and fit • a tall, lean athleteSlight means thin and delicate-looking • Her brother was very slight and looked younger than he was.
—thinness noun [uncountable]
WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE: thin, slim, skinny, slender, lean, slightThin is a general word meaning that someone has little fat on their body. It is usually, but not always, disapproving • He's much too thin. • Teenage girls all seem to want to be thin.Slim means thin in an attractive way • her lovely slim figureSkinny is a fairly informal word meaning very thin, which is usually disapproving • ridiculously skinny modelsSlender, lean, and slight are used mostly in written English.Slender means thin in an attractive and graceful way • long slender legsLean means thin and looking strong and fit • a tall, lean athleteSlight means thin and delicate-looking • Her brother was very slight and looked younger than he was.
