Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To reduce the number, density, or concentration of items in a group or area, making them more spaced out or less crowded.
   • To lessen the strength, flavor, or intensity of a mixture or solution by dilution.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To become less dense, numerous, or frequent; to diminish in number or concentration over space or time.

Usage and Examples

• Transitive Verb (to make sparse):

  • The gardener needs to thin out the seedlings to give the stronger plants room to grow.
  • We should thin out these old files to create more space in the cabinet.

• Transitive Verb (to dilute):

  • You can thin out the paint with a little water for a lighter wash effect.
  • Thin out the sauce with some stock if it's too thick.

• Intransitive Verb (to become sparse):

  • The traffic begins to thin out after we pass the city limits.
  • As we climbed higher, the trees thinned out considerably.

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe the natural or intentional process of reduction in density.
  • The crowd thinned out as the concert ended.
  • Her hair has *thinned out a lot over the years.*

Variants and Related Words

• Thin (verb): The base verb, meaning to make or become thin. "Thin out" is a more specific phrasal verb.
• Thinning (noun/adj): The process or result of becoming less dense. (e.g., , ).

Synonyms

• Transitive (make sparse): cull, prune, weed out, space out.
• Transitive (dilute): weaken, dilute, water down.
• Intransitive (become sparse): diminish, decrease, disperse, scatter.

Phrasal Verbs

• As a unit, "thin out" is itself a phrasal verb with the meanings defined above. It does not typically separate (e.g., "thin the seedlings out" is acceptable but less common than "thin out the seedlings").

Related Idioms

• No common idioms are directly formed from this specific phrasal verb. Its meaning is typically literal.

Verb

1. lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture
   • cut bourbon
2. become sparser
   • Towards the end of town, the houses thinned out
3. make sparse
   • thin out the young plants