English主要词典
tight
Universal Words
adjective, adverb
adjective (tighter, tightest)
fixed firmly
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.
clothes
2 fitting closely to your body and sometimes uncomfortable:
She was wearing a tight pair of jeans. * These shoes are much too tight. * The new sweater was a tight fit.
OPPLOOSE
seealsoSKINTIGHT
control
3 very strict and firm:
to exercise / keep tight control over sb/sth * We need tighter security at the airport.
stretched
4 stretched or pulled so that it cannot stretch much further:
The rope was stretched tight.
close together
5 [usuallybeforenoun] 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.
money / time
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).
expression / voice
7 looking or sounding anxious, upset, angry, etc:
'I'm sorry,' she said, with a tight smile.
seealsoUPTIGHT
part of body
8 feeling painful or uncomfortable because of illness or emotion:
He complained of having a tight chest. * Her throat felt tight, just looking at her baby.
relationship
9 having a close relationship with sb else or with other people:
It was a tight community and newcomers were not welcome.
seealsoTIGHT-KNIT
bend / curve
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.
contest / race
11 with competitors or teams that seem to be equally good
SYNCLOSE:
a tight race / game
not generous
12 (BrE, informal, disapproving) not wanting to spend much money; not generous:
He's very tight with his money.
drunk
13 [notusuallybeforenoun] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) drunk
-tight
14 (in compounds) not allowing the substance mentioned to enter:
measures to make your home weathertight
seealsoAIRTIGHT, WATERTIGHT
tightness noun [U]
IDIOMS
to keep a tight rein on sb/sth to control sb/sth carefully or strictly:
It's essential to keep a tight rein on public spending.
run a tight ship to organize sth in a very efficient way, controlling other people very closely
a tight spot / corner a very difficult or dangerous situation:
She'll always help if you're in a tight spot.
adverb (tighter, tightest) closely and firmly; tightly:
Hold tight! * My suitcase was packed tight. * His fists were clenched tight.
IDIOMS see SIT, SLEEPv.
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WHICHWORD?
tight / tightly
Tight and tightly are both adverbs that come from the adjective tight. They have the same meaning, but tight is often used instead of tightly after a verb, especially in informal language, and in compounds: packed tight * a tight-fitting lid. Before a past participle tightly is used: clusters of tightly packed flowers.
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