thicken
/'θikən/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To make something more viscous, dense, or substantial in consistency.
- To make something wider or deeper; to add bulk or substance to.
Verb (intransitive):
- To become more viscous, dense, or substantial in consistency.
- To become more numerous, intense, or complex.
Examples of Usage
- Transitive Verb:
- Add cornstarch to thicken the gravy.
- The fog thickened the air, making it hard to see.
- Intransitive Verb:
- As the soup cools, it will thicken.
- The crowd began to thicken around the entrance.
Advanced Usage
- "The plot thickens": A common idiomatic expression used to indicate that a situation, especially in a narrative, is becoming more complex, mysterious, or interesting.
- Just as we thought we solved the case, a new suspect appeared. Ah, the plot thickens!
Variants and Related Words
- Thickening (noun): The process of becoming thick or a substance used to thicken.
- Cornstarch is a common thickening for sauces.
- Thickener (noun): A substance that thickens.
- Arrowroot is a natural thickener.
- Inspissate (verb, formal): A synonym meaning to thicken or condense.
- The liquid was inspissated by evaporation.
Synonyms
- Condense: To make denser or more concentrated.
- Coagulate: To change from a fluid to a solid or semi-solid state (e.g., blood, custard).
- Gel: To form a gel or become jelly-like.
- Clot: To form into a thick mass (typically for blood).
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
- Thicken up: To cause something to become thicker or more substantial.
- You need to thicken up the sauce a bit more before serving.
Related Idioms
- "Thicken the plot": Similar to "the plot thickens," meaning to add complexity to a story or situation.
- The anonymous letter served to thicken the plot of the mystery.
Verb
- make viscous or dense
- thicken the sauce by adding flour
- become thick or thicker
- The sauce thickened
- The egg yolk will inspissate
- make thick or thicker
- Thicken the sauce
- inspissate the tar so that it becomes pitch