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Tall vs Thick - What's the difference?

tall | thick |

As adjectives the difference between tall and thick

is that tall is (of a person) having a vertical extent greater than the average for example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall while thick is relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite in its smallest solid dimension.

As an adverb thick is

in a thick manner.

As a noun thick is

the thickest, or most active or intense, part of something.

As a verb thick is

(archaic|transitive) to thicken.

tall

English

Adjective

(er)
  • (of a person) Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps,
  • Having its top a long way up; having a great vertical (and often greater than horizontal) extent; high.
  • (of a story) Hard to believe, such as a tall story or a tall tale.
  • (chiefly, US, of a cup of coffee) A cup of coffee smaller than grande, usually 8 ounces.
  • (obsolete) Obsequious; obedient.
  • (obsolete) Seemly; suitable; fitting, becoming, comely; attractive, handsome.
  • (obsolete) Bold; brave; courageous; valiant.
  • (archaic) Fine; proper; admirable; great; excellent.

    • Antonyms

    * (of a person) short * (of a building) short, low, low-rise

    Derived terms

    * stand tall * tall in the saddle * tall order * tall story * tall tale

    thick

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite in its smallest solid dimension.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=17 citation , passage=The face which emerged was not reassuring. It was blunt and grey, the nose springing thick and flat from high on the frontal bone of the forehead, whilst his eyes were narrow slits of dark in a tight bandage of tissue. […].}}
  • Measuring a certain number of units in this dimension.
  • Heavy in build; thickset.
  • * 2007 , James T. Knight, Queen of the Hustle
    • As she twirled around in front of the mirror admiring how the dress showed off her thick booty, she felt like a princess in a children's storybook.
  • Densely crowded or packed.
  • * , chapter=3
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.}}
  • Having a viscous consistency.
  • Abounding in number.
  • Impenetrable to sight.
  • Difficult to understand, or poorly articulated.
  • (informal) Stupid.
  • (informal) Friendly or intimate.
  • * T. Hughes
    • We have been thick ever since.
  • Deep, intense, or profound.
  • * Shakespeare
    • thick sleep

    Synonyms

    * (relatively great in extent from one surface to another) broad * (measuring a certain number of units in this dimension) * (heavy in build) chunky, solid, stocky, thickset * (densely crowded or packed) crowded, dense, packed * (having a viscous consistency) glutinous, viscous * (abounding in number) overflowing, swarming, teeming * (impenetrable to sight) dense, opaque, solid * (sense) unclear * dense, dumb (informal), stupid, thick as pigshit (taboo slang), thick as two short planks (slang) * (sense) chummy (qualifier), close, close-knit, friendly, pally (informal), intimate, tight-knit * great, extreme * See also

    Antonyms

    * (relatively great in extent from one surface to another) slim, thin * (heavy in build) slender, slight, slim, svelte, thin * (densely crowded or packed) sparse * (having a viscous consistency) free-flowing, runny * (abounding in number) * (impenetrable to sight) thin, transparent * (sense) clear, lucid * brainy (informal), intelligent, smart * (sense) unacquainted

    Derived terms

    * blood is thicker than water * thick and thin * thick as a brick * thick as a plank * thick as thieves * thick as two short planks * thicket * thickhead * thickish * thickly * thicko * thickness * thickset * thick-skinned * thick-un * thicky

    Adverb

    (er)
  • In a thick manner.
    • Snow lay thick on the ground.
  • Thickly.
    • Bread should be sliced thick to make toast.
  • Frequently; in great numbers.
    • The arrows flew thick and fast around us.

    Noun

    (-)
  • The thickest, or most active or intense, part of something.
    • It was mayhem in the thick of battle.
  • * Dryden
    • He through a little window cast his sight / Through thick of bars, that gave a scanty light.
  • A thicket.
  • * Drayton
    • gloomy thicks
  • * Spenser
    • Through the thick they heard one rudely rush.
  • A stupid person; a fool.
  • * 2014 , Joseph O'Connor, The Thrill of It All (page 100)
    • If there was doctorates in bollocksology and scratching yourself in bed, the two of you'd be professors by now. Pair of loafing, idle thicks .

    Derived terms

    * in the thick of * through thick and thin

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To thicken.
    • The nightmare Life-in-death was she, / Who thicks man's blood with cold. — Coleridge.
    1000 English basic words