thinly
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adverb:
- In a way that forms a layer with little thickness or density; not thickly: Used to describe something spread, distributed, or applied so that it covers an area with gaps or in a sparse manner.
- To a small degree or extent; meagerly: Used to indicate a small quantity, amount, or intensity.
- In a weak, feeble, or unconvincing way; without force or sincerity: Used to describe actions, expressions, or emotions that lack strength or genuineness.
Usage Examples
- Describing sparse distribution or application:
- Spread the butter thinly on the toast.
- The trees were thinly scattered across the plain.
- Describing a small degree or meager amount:
- The evidence supporting his claim was thinly presented.
- The population is thinly spread across the island.
- Describing a weak or insincere manner:
- She smiled thinly, hiding her disappointment.
- He thinly disguised his contempt with polite words.
Advanced Usage
- "thinly veiled": Barely concealed or disguised.
- His criticism was a thinly veiled attack on the management.
- "thinly sliced": Cut into very fine, narrow pieces.
- Add the thinly sliced garlic to the hot oil.
Variants and Related Words
- Thin (adjective): Having little thickness or density; not thick.
- A thin layer of ice.
- Thinness (noun): The quality or state of being thin.
- The thinness of the fabric.
- Thin (verb): To make or become thin.
- The crowd began to thin after midnight.
Synonyms
- Sparsely: In a thinly scattered or distributed way.
- Lightly: With little weight, force, or quantity.
- Meagerly: In a small or inadequate amount.
- Faintly: In a way that is barely perceptible; weakly.
Antonyms
- Thickly: In a way that forms a layer with great thickness or density.
- Heavily: In a large amount or to a great degree.
- Generously: In a plentiful or ample manner.
- Sincerely: In a genuine and heartfelt way.
Related Phrases
- Cut it thin/ Cut it thinly: To slice something into thin pieces. (Often used literally).
- For this recipe, you need to cut the cucumber thinly.
- Spread thinly: To distribute resources, effort, or attention over too many areas, reducing effectiveness.
- The small team was spread thinly across too many projects.
Adverb
- in a widely distributed manner
- thinly overgrown mountainside
- in a small quantity or extent
- spread the margarine thinly over the meat
- apply paint lightly
- without viscosity
- the blood was flowing thin
- without force or sincere effort
- smiled thinly