thickness
B1Neutral; common in technical, scientific, everyday, and descriptive contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The distance through an object, as opposed to its length or width; the dimension between opposite surfaces.
The state or quality of being thick; a layer of material; the consistency of a fluid or mixture.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a physical property, but can be used metaphorically to describe density, opacity, or intensity (e.g., 'the thickness of the plot').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Minor spelling preferences in related compounds (e.g., 'thickener' equally common).
Connotations
Identical core meaning. Slight preference in UK English for 'thickness' in woodworking/engineering contexts.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[measuring] + thickness of + [object][object] + has/with + a thickness of + [measurement]in thicknessVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Through thick and thin”
- “Lay it on thick”
- “Thick as thieves”
- “Thick-skinned”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Specifying material requirements, product dimensions, or quality control parameters.
Academic
Describing geological strata, biological tissues, material science properties, or atmospheric layers.
Everyday
Referring to slices of food, clothing, books, hair, or fog.
Technical
Precise measurement in engineering, manufacturing, construction, and coatings.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The paint needs to thickness properly as it dries.
- We must thickness the mixture before pouring.
American English
- The sauce will thickness as it cools.
- They thickness the polymer during the final stage.
adverb
British English
- The ice formed thickness enough to walk on.
American English
- Apply the plaster thickness across the entire surface.
adjective
British English
- The thickness measurement was crucial for the prototype.
American English
- We need a thickness gauge for this material.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The thickness of this book is about five centimetres.
- My winter coat has a good thickness to keep me warm.
- Check the thickness of the glass before you cut it.
- The recipe requires the batter to be of pouring thickness.
- The engineer specified a wall thickness of 250 millimetres for structural integrity.
- The thickness of the plot made the novel difficult to follow at times.
- Variations in the thickness of the ozone layer are monitored closely by satellites.
- The painter applied the impasto with a deliberate thickness to create texture.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a thick book – the thickness is how many pages it has from cover to cover.
Conceptual Metaphor
THICKNESS IS DENSITY/INTENSITY (e.g., 'the thickness of the atmosphere', 'the thickness of the accent').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'толщина' (which is correct) and 'толстота' (which refers more to stoutness of a person).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'thick' as a noun (e.g., 'the thick of the wall' – incorrect; 'the thickness of the wall' – correct).
- Confusing 'thickness' with 'width' or 'depth' in technical descriptions.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'thickness' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually uncountable when referring to the quality (e.g., 'The thickness is impressive'). It can be countable when referring to specific layers or measurements (e.g., 'Apply three thicknesses of paint').
Thickness refers to a physical dimension (distance between surfaces). Density refers to mass per unit volume. A material can be thin but dense (like lead foil), or thick but low density (like Styrofoam).
Yes, commonly to describe viscosity or consistency (e.g., 'the thickness of the soup', 'the thickness of the oil').
The primary adjective is 'thick'. 'Thickness' itself can function attributively as a noun modifier (e.g., 'thickness gauge', 'thickness measurement').