þykknun

Þykknun is a noun in Icelandic that denotes the process of becoming thick or the act of thickening. It is used to describe changes in liquids, such as sauces, soups, or dairy products, where heat, reduction, or the addition of thickeners causes the liquid to gain viscosity. The term can also be applied more generally to the thickening of other substances or layers, including tissues or geological deposits, and appears in both everyday language and more technical or scientific writing. The corresponding verb forms include þykknast or þykkna, with þykknun serving as the nominalized form.

Etymology and form: Þykknun derives from the stem að þykknun- meaning thick, with the common Icelandic noun suffix -un indicating a process or state. It is attested in Old Icelandic and Old Norse texts, where it carried the same basic meaning of becoming thick, and it continues to be used in modern Icelandic with the same core sense.

Usage and contexts: In culinary contexts, þykknun describes the thickening of sauces, soups, gravies, and dairy products through simmering, reduction, or the addition of starch or other thickeners. In scientific, medical, or technical contexts, it can refer to the thickening of tissues, films, or fluids, as well as sediment or soil layers that increase in viscosity or density. The term is a standard part of Icelandic vocabulary for describing physical changes that involve increased thickness.

See also: thickening (general concept); þykknun as a linguistic tool for forming process nouns from adjectives or verbs in Icelandic.