adj · noun · verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈθɪkənɪŋ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:TH IH1 K AH0 N IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:TH IH1 K N IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Beginning to thicken, becoming thicker.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A thickened part of a structure.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
present participle and gerund of thicken
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
becoming more intricate or complex
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a thickening plot
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
the act of thickening
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: inspissation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: condensing, condensation
8
noun
Meaning 8
any thickened enlargement
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: node, knob
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: convex shape, convexity
9
noun
Meaning 9
any material used to thicken
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
starch is used in cooking as a thickening
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: thickener
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: material, stuff
History
Etymology
From thicken + -ing.
Across languages
Translations
24 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
сгъстяване
(sgǎstjavane)
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
Finnish:
sakeutus
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
French:
épaississement
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
German:
Dickwerden
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
Hungarian:
sűrűsödés
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
Hungarian:
besűrűsödés
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
Hungarian:
sűrítés
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
Hungarian:
besűrítés
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
Italian:
ispessimento
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
Portuguese:
espessamento
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
Russian:
сгуще́ние
(sguščénije)
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
Spanish:
espesamiento
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
Swedish:
redning
— the process of making something, or becoming, thick or viscous
Bulgarian:
сгъстител
(sgǎstitel)
— a substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce
Finnish:
suuruste
— a substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce
Finnish:
sakeute
— a substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce
French:
épaississant
— a substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce
German:
Verdickungsmittel
— a substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce
Hungarian:
sűrítőanyag
— a substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce
Hungarian:
dúsítóanyag
— a substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce
Italian:
addensante
— a substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce
Portuguese:
espessante
— a substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce
Spanish:
espesante
— a substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce
Swedish:
redning
— a substance, usually a source of starch, used to thicken a sauce