dense

views updated May 14 2018

dense / dens/ • adj. closely compacted in substance: dense volcanic rock swirling, dense smoke. ∎  having the constituent parts crowded closely together: an estuary dense with marine life. ∎ fig. (of a text) hard to understand because of complexity of ideas. ∎ inf. (of a person) stupid.DERIVATIVES: dense·ly adv.dense·ness n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

dense

views updated May 21 2018

dense thick, crowded XV; stupid XIX. — F. dense or L. dēnsus.
So density XVII.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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