English Dictionary

TIGHT

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tight mean? 

TIGHT (adjective)
  The adjective TIGHT has 14 senses:

1. closely constrained or constricted or constrictingplay

2. pulled or drawn tightplay

3. set so close together as to be invulnerable to penetrationplay

4. pressed tightly togetherplay

5. (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosityplay

6. affected by scarcity and expensive to borrowplay

7. of such close construction as to be impermeableplay

8. of textilesplay

9. securely or solidly fixed in place; rigidplay

10. (of a contest or contestants) evenly matchedplay

11. very drunkplay

12. exasperatingly difficult to handle or circumventplay

13. demanding strict attention to rules and proceduresplay

14. packed closely togetherplay

  Familiarity information: TIGHT used as an adjective is familiar.


TIGHT (adverb)
  The adverb TIGHT has 2 senses:

1. firmly or closelyplay

2. in an attentive mannerplay

  Familiarity information: TIGHT used as an adverb is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


TIGHT (adjective)

 Declension: comparative and superlative 
Comparative: tighter  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Superlative: tightest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Closely constrained or constricted or constricting

Context example:

a tight feeling in his chest

Similar:

choky (so tight as to tend to choke)

clenched; clinched (closed or squeezed together tightly)

close; close-fitting; snug (fitting closely but comfortably)

skin-tight; skintight (so tight as to cling to the skin)

skinny; tight-fitting; tight fitting; tightfitting; tightly fitting (fitting snugly)

viselike (clamped as in a vise)

Also:

tight (of such close construction as to be impermeable)

tense (taut or rigid; stretched tight)

Antonym:

loose (not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting)

Derivation:

tightness (a tight feeling in some part of the body)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Pulled or drawn tight

Synonyms:

taut; tight

Context example:

a tight rope

Similar:

tense (taut or rigid; stretched tight)

Derivation:

tightness (lack of movement or room for movement)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Set so close together as to be invulnerable to penetration

Context example:

a tight blockade

Similar:

invulnerable (immune to attack; impregnable)

Derivation:

tightness (the spatial property of being crowded together)


Sense 4

Meaning:

Pressed tightly together

Synonyms:

compressed; tight

Context example:

with lips compressed

Similar:

closed; shut (used especially of mouth or eyes)


Sense 5

Meaning:

(used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity

Synonyms:

mean; mingy; miserly; tight

Context example:

he left a miserly tip

Similar:

stingy; ungenerous (unwilling to spend (money, time, resources, etc.))

Derivation:

tightness (extreme stinginess)


Sense 6

Meaning:

Affected by scarcity and expensive to borrow

Context example:

a tight market

Similar:

scarce (deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand)

Domain category:

economic science; economics; political economy (the branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management)

Derivation:

tightness (a state occasioned by scarcity of money and a shortage of credit)


Sense 7

Meaning:

Of such close construction as to be impermeable

Context example:

warm in our tight little house

Similar:

air-tight; airtight; gas-tight (not allowing air or gas to pass in or out)

watertight (not allowing water to pass in or out)

snug (well and tightly constructed)

rainproof; waterproof; waterproofed (not permitting the passage of water)

leakproof (not subject to leaks)

hermetic (completely sealed; completely airtight)

dripless (designed to prevent dripping)

Also:

tight (closely constrained or constricted or constricting)

seaworthy (fit for a sea voyage)

impermeable (preventing especially liquids to pass or diffuse through)

Antonym:

leaky (permitting the unwanted passage of fluids or gases)


Sense 8

Meaning:

Of textiles

Synonyms:

close; tight

Context example:

smooth percale with a very tight weave

Similar:

fine (of textures that are smooth to the touch or substances consisting of relatively small particles)


Sense 9

Meaning:

Securely or solidly fixed in place; rigid

Context example:

the bolts are tight

Similar:

secure (not likely to fail or give way)


Sense 10

Meaning:

(of a contest or contestants) evenly matched

Synonyms:

close; tight

Context example:

a tight game

Similar:

equal (having the same quantity, value, or measure as another)


Sense 11

Meaning:

Very drunk

Synonyms:

besotted; blind drunk; blotto; cockeyed; crocked; fuddled; loaded; pie-eyed; pissed; pixilated; plastered; slopped; sloshed; smashed; soaked; soused; sozzled; squiffy; stiff; tight; wet

Similar:

drunk; gone; inebriated; intoxicated; ripped (stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol))

Domain usage:

argot; cant; jargon; lingo; patois; slang; vernacular (a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves))


Sense 12

Meaning:

Exasperatingly difficult to handle or circumvent

Synonyms:

nasty; tight

Context example:

a good man to have on your side in a tight situation

Similar:

difficult; hard (not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure)


Sense 13

Meaning:

Demanding strict attention to rules and procedures

Synonyms:

rigorous; stringent; tight

Context example:

stringent safety measures

Similar:

demanding (requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill)


Sense 14

Meaning:

Packed closely together

Context example:

the pub was packed tight

Similar:

compact (closely and firmly united or packed together)


TIGHT (adverb)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Firmly or closely

Synonyms:

fast; tight

Context example:

held tight


Sense 2

Meaning:

In an attentive manner

Synonyms:

close; closely; tight

Context example:

he remained close on his guard


 Context examples 


The other most important aspect on December 25 is Jupiter’s tight presence to the Sun and new moon, the reason this eclipse will be so joyous.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The astrocytic endfeet release molecules that regulate the tight junctions between the endothelial cells.

(Brain tumor invasion along blood vessels may lead to new cancer treatments, NIH)

That’s a very close orbit, possibly the tightest orbital dance ever witnessed for a star and black hole.

(Astronomers Find Closest Star to A Black Hole, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

She knocked at the door—surprise visit, I guess, for he kept his life in water-tight compartments—he let her in, couldn’t keep her in the street.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then he passed his handkerchief over his brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The great breast and heavy fore legs were no more than in proportion with the rest of the body, where the muscles showed in tight rolls underneath the skin.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

I held tight; and I thought I was going to win, for I didn't mean Him to take any more of her life, till I saw His eyes.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

This has the effect of forcing the nanoparticles to bind together into tight clusters.

(Colour-changing artificial ‘chameleon skin’ powered by nanomachines, University of Cambridge)

This allele, which encodes angiomotin protein, is involved in the regulation of tight junction formation.

(AMOT wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein plays a role in the organization of tight junctions.

(Cingulin-Like Protein 1, NCI Thesaurus)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing well." (English proverb)

"The one who does not make you happy when he arrives makes you happy when he leaves" (Breton proverb)

"He who laughs last laughs best." (American proverb)

"He who has money and friends, turns his nose at justice." (Corsican proverb)



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