- tight
- [[t]ta͟ɪt[/t]]
♦♦♦tighter, tightest1) ADJ-GRADED Tight clothes or shoes are rather small and fit closely to your body.
She walked off the plane in a miniskirt and tight top...
His jeans were too tight.
Ant:Derived words:2) ADV-GRADED: ADV after v If you hold someone or something tight, you hold them firmly and securely.She just fell into my arms, clutching me tight for a moment...
Just hold tight to my hand and follow along...
Hold on tight!
Derived words:tightly ADV-GRADED ADV after vShe climbed back into bed and wrapped her arms tightly round her body.
ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ nTight is also an adjective.As he and Henrietta passed through the gate he kept a tight hold of her arm.
3) ADJ-GRADED Tight controls or rules are very strict.The measures include tight control of media coverage...
The Government were prepared to keep a tight hold on public sector pay rises...
Security is tight this week at the polling sites.
Derived words:tightly ADV-GRADED ADV after v, ADV -edThe internal media was tightly controlled by the government during the war.
4) ADV-GRADED: ADV -ed, ADV after v Something that is shut tight is shut very firmly.The baby lay on his back with his eyes closed tight...
I keep the flour and sugar in individual jars, sealed tight with their glass lids...
Within minutes she was outside, closing her bedroom door tight behind her...
She kept her eyes tight closed.
Derived words:tightly ADV-GRADED ADV after v, ADV -edPemberton frowned and closed his eyes tightly...
Despite the heat its windows remained tightly closed with wooden shutters.
5) ADJ-GRADED Skin, cloth, or string that is tight is stretched or pulled so that it is smooth or straight.My skin feels tight and lacking in moisture...
Pull the elastic tight and knot the ends.
Derived words:6) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n Tight is used to describe a group of things or an amount of something that is closely packed together.She curled up in a tight ball, with her knees tucked up at her chin...
The men came in a tight group.
Derived words:tightly ADV-GRADED ADV after v, ADV -edMany animals travel in tightly packed lorries and are deprived of food, water and rest.
ADVTight is also an adverb.The people sleep on sun lounges packed tight, end to end.
7) ADJ-GRADED If a part of your body is tight, it feels rather uncomfortable and painful, for example because you are ill, anxious, or angry.It is better to stretch the tight muscles first...
Sarah came forward with a tight and angry face...
`There were no survivors, of course,' said Fred, his throat tight.
Syn:Derived words:tightness N-UNCOUNTHeart disease often shows itself first as pain or tightness in the chest.
8) ADJ-GRADED A tight group of people is one whose members are closely linked by beliefs, feelings, or interests.We're a tight group, so we do keep in touch.
Syn:9) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A tight bend or corner is one that changes direction very quickly so that you cannot see very far round it.They collided on a tight bend and both cars were extensively damaged.
Syn:10) ADJ-GRADED A tight schedule or budget allows very little time or money for unexpected events or expenses.It's difficult to cram everything into a tight schedule ...
Emma is on a tight budget for clothes...
Financially things are a bit tight.
11) ADJ-GRADED A tight contest is one where none of the competitors has a clear advantage or looks likely to win, so that it is difficult to say who the winner will be.It was a very tight match...
The most recent polls predict a tight three-way race.
12) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) If you say that someone is tight, you disapprove of them because they are unwilling to spend their money. [INFORMAL]What about getting new ones - Are you so tight you won't even spend three roubles?
Syn:tight-fisted, mean, stingy13) → See also , skin-tight14) PHRASE: usu prep PHR If you are in a tight corner or in a tight spot, you are in a difficult situation. [INFORMAL]That puts the president in a tight spot if the vote is not a resounding `yes'...
They teach you to use your head to get out of a tight corner.
15) CONVENTION You can say `sleep tight' to someone when they are going to bed as an affectionate way of saying that you hope they will sleep well.Good night, Davey. Sleep tight.
English dictionary. 2008.
