thickly
gb/θˈɪkli/ us/θˈɪkli/
B1
English
~ 7100
sűrűn, vastagon, nehezen érthetően, elfúló hangon, elmosódottan
B2
1
sűrűn
A2
Usage pattern:
[place] is thickly [past participle]
The valley is thickly populated, with villages only a few kilometers apart.
A völgy sűrűn lakott, a falvak mindössze néhány kilométerre vannak egymástól.
Pine trees grew thickly along the sides of the mountain trail.
A hegyi ösvény mentén kétoldalt sűrűn nőttek a fenyőfák.
Fog hung thickly over the harbor, hiding the ships from view.
We walked through a garden where roses were planted thickly on both sides.
The smoke rose thickly from the factory chimneys and drifted across the town.
Learner examples
The city is thickly populated.
A város sűrűn lakott.
Trees grow thickly around the lake.
A tó körül sűrűn nőnek a fák.
Clouds covered the sky thickly.
Small houses stand thickly along this road.
Dust lay thickly on every shelf.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"many people live thick"* instead of *"the area is thickly populated"*. Remember that *thickly* usually modifies a past participle like *populated*, *wooded*, or a verb like *grow* (*trees grow thickly*). Also, do not confuse *thickly* with *thick* when describing distribution: say *trees grow thickly*, not *trees grow thick*.
Meaning
densely; in large numbers
Collocations
thickly populated
|thickly wooded
|thickly forested
|trees grow thickly
|houses are built thickly
|plants clustered thickly
Synonyms
densely (More common in formal or technical descriptions, especially about population or growth.)
|
heavily (Can suggest intensity or amount, but is less specific about things being close together in space.)
Antonyms
thinly (Direct opposite for physical distribution; suggests only a small number spread over a larger area.)
|
sparsely (Common in more formal descriptions of low population or few objects in a large area.)
Themes
description
|nature
|geography
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
|space
Definition
In a way where many things are very close together in one place.
In a way that has many people, things, or parts in a small area or space, so that they are close together.
B1
2
vastagon
A2
Usage pattern:
to cover [something] thickly with [substance]
She spread jam thickly on the warm toast.
Vastagon megkente lekvárral a meleg pirítóst.
The road was thickly covered with snow by morning.
Reggelre vastag hóréteg borította az utat.
The walls were thickly coated with white paint to hide the stains.
Dust lay thickly on the old books in the attic.
The cake was thickly iced with chocolate frosting.
Learner examples
He put butter thickly on his bread.
Vastagon megkente vajjal a kenyerét.
The ground was thickly covered with snow.
A földet vastagon borította a hó.
Makeup was thickly put on her face.
The car was thickly covered in mud.
Sugar was sprinkled thickly over the cake.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *strongly* or *a lot* instead of *thickly* when talking about a physical layer (for example, *"He put butter a lot"*). Use *thickly* to describe a deep layer: *"He spread butter thickly."* Also, remember that *thick* is an adjective (*a thick layer*), while *thickly* is the adverb (*spread it thickly*).
Meaning
in a thick layer or coating
Collocations
spread butter thickly
|coat thickly
|cover thickly with snow
|apply paint thickly
|dust lies thickly
|ice forms thickly
Synonyms
heavily (Often used in similar contexts to show a large amount is used or present, but not always about the physical depth of a layer.)
|
generously (Emphasizes giving or using a lot, especially with food, but does not focus as much on physical thickness.)
Antonyms
thinly (Direct opposite; describes a very light or shallow layer of something.)
|
lightly (Suggests only a small amount is used, often in cooking or decoration.)
Themes
food
|daily_life
|description
|core_vocabulary
Definition
In a way that makes a deep or heavy layer of something on a surface.
In a way that produces or has a layer of substance that is deep or thick rather than thin.
C1
3
Usage pattern:
to speak/say [words] thickly
He spoke thickly through the bandage that covered his jaw.
Az állkapcsát fedő kötésen keresztül nehezen érthetően beszélt.
She answered thickly, her mouth still full of food.
Teli szájjal, nehezen érthetően válaszolt.
His voice came thickly over the phone, as if he had been crying.
The patient breathed thickly, struggling for air after the operation.
Drunk and exhausted, he mumbled thickly before falling asleep on the sofa.
Learner examples
He spoke thickly because his mouth was hurt.
Nehezen érthetően beszélt, mert megsérült a szája.
She said the words thickly with tears in her throat.
Elfúló hangon mondta ki a szavakat, könnyekkel a torkában.
The man on the phone spoke thickly and was hard to understand.
The child, half asleep, answered his mother thickly.
After running hard, he breathed thickly for a few minutes.
Common mistake:
Learners may say *"He spoke strong"* or *"He spoke hard"* when they mean his speech was not clear. Use *thickly* when the problem is that the mouth or throat is not free (because of food, injury, sleepiness, tears, or alcohol), and use *quietly* or *softly* for low volume.
Meaning
in a muffled or unclear voice
Collocations
speak thickly
|say thickly
|murmur thickly
|breathe thickly
|voice came thickly
|answer thickly
Synonyms
muffledly (More technical and less common; focuses on the sound being blocked or softened.)
|
hoarsely (Emphasizes a rough, strained voice rather than general lack of clarity.)
Antonyms
clearly (Direct opposite; describes speech that is easy to hear and understand.)
|
distinctly (Stresses that each sound and word is sharp and separate, not blurred together.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|health
Definition
Speaking in a way that is not clear, usually because the mouth is blocked or the person is crying, drunk, or very tired.
In a way of speaking or making sound that is muffled, unclear, or hard to understand, often because the mouth, tongue, or throat is not free or because of strong emotion.
Grammar
Dictionary form
thickly
IPA
GB/θˈɪkli/
US/θˈɪkli/
Syllables & stress
thickly (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (thickly)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: thickly
- Plural: thicklies
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.