thinning

Thân thiện

The gardener is thinning the carrot seedlings in the vegetable patch.

Definition

Noun 1. The act of making something less dense, concentrated, or viscous by adding another substance. This refers to the process of reducing the thickness or strength of a liquid, mixture, or sometimes a group of objects by dispersion or dilution. 2. The act of making something less crowded or numerous by removing some of its parts. This can refer to reducing the number of plants in an area, hairs on the head, or items in a collection to improve health, appearance, or quality.

Usage and Examples

• As a process of dilution:
  • The thinning of the oil with a solvent made it easier to apply.
  • Proper thinning is crucial when mixing epoxy resin.
• As a process of selective removal:
  • The thinning of the seedlings allowed the remaining plants to grow stronger.
  • Hair thinning is a common concern for many people as they age.

Advanced Usage

• "Thinning" can be used metaphorically to describe the reduction in density or intensity of non-physical things.
  • The thinning of the crowd after midnight made the streets feel empty.
  • There was a noticeable thinning of his patience as the meeting dragged on.

Variants and Related Words

• Thin (verb): To make or become thin.
• Thin (adjective): Having little thickness or density.
• Thinner (noun): A substance used for thinning paint or other liquids.

Synonyms

• Dilution: The action of making a liquid weaker by adding water or another solvent.
• Attenuation: The reduction of the force, effect, or value of something.
• Pruning: Trimming (a tree, shrub, or bush) by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems.
• Culling: Reducing the population of (a wild animal) by selective slaughter.

Antonyms

• Thickening: The process of making or becoming thick or thicker.
• Concentration: The action of increasing the strength or density of a substance.
• Densification: The process of making something more dense.

Related Phrases

• Thinning out: A phrasal verb meaning to make something less dense or crowded by removing parts.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the act of diluting something
   • the cutting of whiskey with water
   • the thinning of paint with turpentine

Từ đồng nghĩa

• cutting