TIGHTLY

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tightly mean? 

• TIGHTLY (adverb)
  The adverb TIGHTLY has 2 senses:

1. in a tight or constricted manner

2. securely fixed or fastened

  Familiarity information: TIGHTLY used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TIGHTLY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a tight or constricted manner

Context example:

a tightly packed pub

Pertainym:

tight (closely constrained or constricted or constricting)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Securely fixed or fastened

Context example:

the window was tightly sealed

Pertainym:

tight (securely or solidly fixed in place; rigid)

 Context examples 

Under normal cellular conditions, the activity of these proteins is tightly controlled.

(Oncogenes, G-Proteins, NCI Thesaurus)

Some hated thought seemed to have him in its grip, and to hold him so tightly that he could not advance.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"Good-bye!" they all answered, and away the Queen ran, while Dorothy held Toto tightly lest he should run after her and frighten her.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

IGF-I and IGF-II circulate in plasma tightly bound to IGFBPs.

(Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 2, NCI Thesaurus)

The good news should arrive during the several days that tightly surround Sunday, December 15.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Scott cried out sharply with surprise, catching his torn hand and holding it tightly in his other hand.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Formation by cetrifugation of a tightly packed sample in the bottom of a tube.

(Pellet Formation, NCI Thesaurus)

A tightly packed area of chromatin that may function to protect chromosome integrity and regulate gene expression.

(Heterochromatin, NCI Thesaurus)

At times, so tightly did they draw, the mouth became stern and harsh, even ascetic.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The Premier’s thin, blue-veined hands were clasped tightly over the ivory head of his umbrella, and his gaunt, ascetic face looked gloomily from Holmes to me.

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