thicker

Thicker is the comparative form of the adjective thick. It describes greater physical thickness or density relative to another object, and it can also describe properties that affect a substance’s flow, such as viscosity. In addition to physical measurements, thicker is used metaphorically to indicate greater complexity, intensity, or substance.

Etymology and form: The base adjective thick descends from Old English thicce, with the comparative suffix -er used to form thicker. The word shares cognates with other Germanic languages that express density or solidity. The standard comparative construction is "thicker than ..." and the superlative is "thickest."

Common usage: In everyday language, thicker describes objects or substances with increased thickness, for example, thicker bread, thicker fabric, or thicker milk. It also describes higher viscosity, as in thicker sauce, thicker syrup, or thicker paint. In descriptive writing, one might say "fog grew thicker" or "a thicker layer of sediment."

Figurative and idiomatic use: The phrase "the plot thickens" uses thicker in a metaphorical sense, implying increased complexity. Another well-known expression is "blood is thicker than water," where thick conveys the endurance or strength of ties rather than physical thickness. As a comparative adjective, thicker is used with "than" to compare two items.

See also: thick, thickness, density, viscosity.