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Thin vs Gossamer - What's the difference?

thin | gossamer | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between thin and gossamer

is that thin is having little thickness or extent from one surface to its opposite while gossamer is tenuous, light, filmy or delicate.

As nouns the difference between thin and gossamer

is that thin is a loss or tearing of paper from the back of a stamp, although not sufficient to create a complete hole while gossamer is a fine film or strand as of cobwebs, floating in the air or caught on bushes etc.

As a verb thin

is to make thin or thinner.

As an adverb thin

is not thickly or closely; in a scattered state.

thin

English

Adjective

(thinner)
  • Having little thickness or extent from one surface to its opposite.
    • thin plate of metal
    thin paper
    thin board
    thin covering
  • Very narrow in all diameters; having a cross section that is small in all directions.
    • thin wire
    thin string
  • Having little body fat or flesh; slim; slender; lean; gaunt.
    • thin person
  • Of low viscosity or low specific gravity, e.g., as is water compared to honey.
  • Scarce; not close, crowded, or numerous; not filling the space.
    • The trees of a forest are thin'''; the corn or grass is '''thin .
  • * Addison
    • Ferrara is very large, but extremely thin of people.
  • (golf) Describing a poorly played golf shot where the ball is struck by the bottom part of the club head. See fat, shank, toe.
  • Lacking body or volume; small; feeble; not full.
  • * Dryden
    • thin , hollow sounds, and lamentable screams
  • Slight; small; slender; flimsy; superficial; inadequate; not sufficient for a covering.
    • a thin disguise

    Synonyms

    * reedy * slender * slim * skinny * waifish * fine * lightweight * narrow * svelte * See also

    Antonyms

    * thick

    Derived terms

    * into thin air * razor thin * thin air * thin as a rake * thick and thin * thin-skinned * wear thin

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (philately) A loss or tearing of paper from the back of a stamp, although not sufficient to create a complete hole.
  • Any food produced or served in thin slices.
    • chocolate mint thins
    potato thins

    Verb

  • To make thin or thinner.
  • To become thin or thinner.
  • To dilute.
  • To remove some plants in order to improve the growth of those remaining.

    • Derived terms

    * thin out

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Not thickly or closely; in a scattered state.
    • seed sown thin
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Spain is thin sown of people.

    External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    gossamer

    English

    Noun

  • A fine film or strand as of cobwebs, floating in the air or caught on bushes etc.
  • A soft, sheer fabric.
  • Anything delicate, light and flimsy.

    • Derived terms

    * gossamery (adjective)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Tenuous, light, filmy or delicate.
  • * (Thomas Bailey Aldrich) (1836-1907)
    • The heaven was spangled with tremulous stars, and at the horizon the clouds hung down in gossamer folds—God's robe trailing in the sea!
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Michael Arlen), title= “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days, chapter=Ep./1/2
    • , passage=He walked. To the corner of Hamilton Place and Picadilly, and there stayed for a while, for it is a romantic station by night. The vague and careless rain looked like threads of gossamer silver passing across the light of the arc-lamps.}}

    Synonyms

    * gossamery