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Tight Taɪt People Screw Move Difficult Closely Stretched

Word tight
WordType (adjective)
Phonetic BrE / taɪt / NAmE / taɪt /
Example
  • he kept a tight grip on her arm.
  • she twisted her hair into a tight knot.
  • the screw was so tight that it wouldn't move.
  • she was wearing a tight pair of jeans.
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Content

tight

(adjective)BrE / taɪt / NAmE / taɪt /
  1. held or fixed in position firmly; difficult to move or undo
    • He kept a tight grip on her arm.
    • She twisted her hair into a tight knot.
    • The screw was so tight that it wouldn't move.
  2. fitting closely to your body and sometimes uncomfortable
    • opposite loose
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/loose_1
    • She was wearing a tight pair of jeans.
    • These shoes are much too tight.
    • The new sweater was a tight fit.
  3. very strict and firm
    • to keep tight control over something
    • We need tighter security at the airport.
  4. stretched or pulled so that it cannot stretch much further
    • The rope was stretched tight.
  5. with things or people packed closely together, leaving little space between them
    • There was a tight group of people around the speaker.
    • With six of us in the car it was a tight squeeze.
  6. difficult to manage with because there is not enough
    • We have a very tight budget.
    • The president has a tight schedule today.
    • The deadline for finishing the project is too tight (= too soon).
  7. looking or sounding anxious, upset, angry, etc.
    • see also uptight
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/uptight
    • ‘I'm sorry,’ she said, with a tight smile.
  8. feeling painful or uncomfortable because of illness or emotion
    • synonym constricted
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/constricted
    • He complained of having a tight chest.
    • Her throat felt tight, just looking at her baby.
  9. having a close relationship with somebody else or with other people
    • see also tight-knit
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/tight-knit
    • It was a tight community and newcomers were not welcome.
  10. curving suddenly rather than gradually
    • The driver slowed down at a tight bend in the road.
    • The plane flew around in a tight circle.
  11. with runners, teams, etc. that seem to be equally good
    • synonym close2
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/close2_1
    • a tight race
  12. not wanting to spend much money; not generous
    • synonym mean
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/mean_2
    • He's very tight with his money.
  13. drunk
    • synonym tipsy
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/tipsy
  14. not allowing the substance mentioned to enter
    • see also airtight
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/airtight
    • measures to make your home weathertight
  15. to organize something in a very efficient way, controlling other people very closely
  16. a very difficult or dangerous situation
    • She’ll always help if you’re in a tight spot.
  17. to control somebody/something carefully or strictly
    • It’s essential to keep a tight rein on public spending.

    Extra Examples

    • Every muscle in her face was drawn tight.
    • I think we’d better leave—time’s getting very tight.
    • Keep the rope tight.
    • Security at the airport remains tight.
    • The cloth was stretched tight over the frame.
    • The rope suddenly went tight.
    • Those jeans are getting too tight for me.
    • She managed to reverse into a tight parking space.
    • The screw was so tight that it wouldn’t move.
    • With six of us in the car it was a tight squeeze.
    • Are the controls tight enough?
    • Those jeans have got too tight and I can’t wear them any more.

    Word Origin

    • Middle English (in the sense ‘healthy, vigorous’, later ‘firm, solid’): probably an alteration of thight ‘firm, solid’, later ‘close-packed, dense’, of Germanic origin; related to German dicht ‘dense, close’.
Copyright This card's content is collected from the following dictionaries: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Tags: t

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