Word
dense
Meanings
packed closely together; thick or compact
hard to see through because it is thick and heavy (of fog, smoke, etc.)
containing a lot of information and therefore difficult to read or understand
Definition
Dense describes something that is tightly packed, thick, or hard to see through.
If something is dense, its parts are packed closely together, so it feels heavy, solid, or thick. You can use it for physical things like forest or fog, and also for writing or information that is difficult because there is a lot in a small space. In both cases, the idea is “many elements with little room between them.”
Examples
- The hike slowed down once we reached the dense undergrowth near the river.
- I missed the exit because the dense fog reduced visibility to a few meters.
- He found the report dense, so he reread each section and took careful notes.
- They built the foundation from dense stone to withstand harsh weather over decades.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use "dense" to mean "popular" or "busy"; use "crowded" or "busy" for people and places rather than "dense."
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.