THICKEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does thicken mean? 

• THICKEN (verb)
  The verb THICKEN has 3 senses:

1. make thick or thicker

2. become thick or thicker

3. make viscous or dense

  Familiarity information: THICKEN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THICKEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they thicken    ... he / she / it thickens   
Past simple: thickened   
Past participle: thickened   
-ing form: thickening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make thick or thicker

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

inspissate; thicken

Context example:

inspissate the tar so that it becomes pitch

Hypernyms (to "thicken" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Cause:

inspissate; thicken (become thick or thicker)

Verb group:

inspissate; thicken (become thick or thicker)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

thin (make thin or thinner)

Derivation:

thickener (any material used to thicken)

thickening (the act of thickening)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become thick or thicker

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

inspissate; thicken

Context example:

The egg yolk will inspissate

Hypernyms (to "thicken" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Verb group:

inspissate; thicken (make thick or thicker)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

thin (lose thickness; become thin or thinner)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make viscous or dense

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

inspissate; thicken

Context example:

thicken the sauce by adding flour

Hypernyms (to "thicken" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

thickener (any material used to thicken)

thickening (the act of thickening)

 Context examples 

A solution common to both groups is to release carbon dioxide gas trapped in the Martian surface to thicken the atmosphere and act as a blanket to warm the planet.

(Mars Terraforming Not Possible Using Present-Day Technology, NASA)

It is characterized by thickening of the bones, particularly the long bones of the extremities.

(Camurati-Engelmann Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

Thickening of the walls of small arteries or arterioles due to cell proliferation or hyaline deposition.

(Arteriolosclerosis, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

A type of hyperplasia that is characterized by variable thickening of the urinary tract epithelium and a slight papillary growth.

(Papillary Urothelial Hyperplasia, NCI Thesaurus)

The thickening of the wall of the small arteries and arterioles.

(Arteriolosclerosis, NCI Thesaurus)

Examples include thickening, thinning, deformity, and separation from the nail bed.

(Nail Changes, NCI Thesaurus)

I daren’t ’ardly give them their feed, for, if they was to thicken out just ever so little—

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Hypertrophy and thickening of the tissues from any cause.

(Elephantiasis, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

A rare disorder characterized by diffuse thickening of the endocardium.

(Endocardial Fibroelastosis, NCI Thesaurus)

A vascular disorder characterized by thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries.

(Arteriosclerosis, NCI Thesaurus)