tight
Part of speech: adj
adv
Morphological type: simple
Topics: card-games
hobbies
lifestyle
motor-racing
poker
racing
sports
Etymology: From Middle English tight, tyght, tyȝt, tiht, variants of thight, thiht, from Old English *þiht, *þīht (attested in meteþiht), from Proto-West Germanic *þį̄ht(ī), from Proto-Germanic *þinhtaz, from Proto-Indo-European *tenkt- (“dense, thick, tight”), from Proto-Indo-European *ten- (“to stretch, pull”).
Cognate with Scots ticht, West Frisian ticht, Danish tæt, Icelandic þéttur (“dense”), Norwegian tett, Swedish tät, Dutch dicht (“dense”), German dicht (“dense”).
The current form with t- /t/ rather than etymologically-expected th- /θ/ arose in Middle English under the influence of the etymologically-unrelated verbs tighten and tight, which come from a different Proto-Indo-European root (starting with *d- and thus regularly having t-).
Inflected forms:
form: tighter
pos: adj
tags: comparative
form: tightest
pos: adj
tags: superlative
form: tighter
pos: adv
tags: comparative
form: tightest
pos: adv
tags: superlative
Senses:
gloss: Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open.
pos: adj
examples: a tight sponge; a tight knot
Pull your seatbelts tight before takeoff.
gloss: Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open.
pos: adj
examples: tight control on a situation
gloss: Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open.
pos: adj
examples: Make sure to pull the rope tight.
The face which emerged was not reassuring. It was blunt and grey, the nose springing thick and flat from high on the frontal bone of the forehead, whilst his eyes were narrow slits of dark in a tight bandage of tissue. […].
The only negative from a comfortable first-half was the sight of Aston Villa’s Nathan Delfouneso being withdrawn with a tight hamstring after only 11 minutes.
Global supply chains, meanwhile, have grown both tighter and more supple since the late 1990s—the result of improving information technology and of freer trade—making routine work easier to relocate.
gloss: Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open.
pos: adj
tags: colloquial
examples: I grew up in a poor neighborhood; money was very tight, but we made do.
China’s currency, the jenminpi, has remained stable; the Chinese assert that it is the "world’s most stable currency." This is generally conceded to be the result of the care with which the Chinese economy and its tight budget are managed.
gloss: Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open.
pos: adj
tags: figuratively
informal
examples: We've grown tighter over the years.
The drawbacks of being in a too-tight couple (there's no room to blow your nose)
gloss: Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open.
pos: adj
tags: derogatory
figuratively
slang
usually
examples: He's a bit tight with his money.
You say he's a Jew, does it mean that he's tight?
gloss: Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open.
pos: adj
tags: slang
examples: I started gambling when you were about four. Your mom and I were pretty tight for cash and I thought what the heck, it could get us some quick money.
gloss: Narrow, such that it is difficult for something or someone to pass through it.
pos: adj
examples: The passageway was so tight we could barely get through.
They flew in a tight formation.
England squeezed high and dominated the ball, penning Iceland back but the hosts kept the lines tight and it became clear that England would have to work for their openings.
gloss: Narrow, such that it is difficult for something or someone to pass through it.
pos: adj
examples: tight clothing;  a tight coat;  My socks are too tight.
gloss: Narrow, such that it is difficult for something or someone to pass through it.
pos: adj
examples: The mountain pass was made dangerous by its many tight corners.
gloss: Narrow, such that it is difficult for something or someone to pass through it.
pos: adj
examples: He reported the hull was tight and secure and did not leak a drop.
Security is tight inside and outside the building, guarded by a bewildering collection of soldiers, policemen and gendarmes. Relatives watch as prisoners in handcuffs and leg irons shuffle past.
gloss: Narrow, such that it is difficult for something or someone to pass through it.
pos: adj
examples: Frank ended up fourth in a tight finish, only three-quarter of a length from first money.
Syracuse had built another good first half lead of 11 points. In the second half, however, Kansas came back and the score was tight through the rest of the game. In the final seconds, Syracuse led 81-78.
[…] was a tight game and particularly low-scoring in the first half.
We lost 1-0 the next day and, although it wasn't a bad performance, I couldn't help thinking that those one, two or even three drinks for some of the lads might have made all the difference to the tight scoreline.
gloss: Well-rehearsed and accurate in execution.
pos: adj
examples: Their marching band is extremely tight.
gloss: Well-rehearsed and accurate in execution.
pos: adj
examples: The odd thing was that Sunderland made the better start and showed early signs that they might pose serious problems to the Premier League’s tightest defence.
gloss: Intoxicated; drunk.
pos: adj
tags: slang
examples: We went drinking and got tight.
And every single night when me da’ would come home tight he’d invite the neighbours out with this chorus.
I'm going to celebrate my divorce! And then I'm going to get tight.
Do you actually know I’ve only danced with you twice in eleven months? Not counting that time at the Vanguard when you were so tight.
No my daddy don't live in that New York City no more, no more / He can't get tight every night, pass out on the barroom floor
And then he insisted on champagne for dinner and by the time we got to our little cinema we were both rather tight.
Johnny walked into the Castle Bar, looking to get tight
gloss: Extraordinarily great or special.
pos: adj
tags: slang
examples: That is one tight bicycle!
gloss: Mean; unfair; unkind.
pos: adj
tags: Northern-England
slang
examples: Reilly: Ey, Miss, hang on, hang on... can we come with y', Miss? Can we?
Digga: Go on, Miss, don't be tight, let's come.
"Ah leave him, ay!" goes one of the girls. "Don't be tight." I turns to her. "Don't you think it's tight terrorising old ladies? Ay?"
"That's right ... so even when life's a grind, the Thais keep smiling. They think the farang are a miserable lot who have to get drunk to enjoy themselves."
"Dutch, that's tight mate, I mean what's wrong with getting pissed. When you're not working, you gotta have a good time," said Darren.
Saying shit about people's mums, that's tight
gloss: Limited or restricted.
pos: adj
examples: We had a very tight schedule.
It is kept super-clean by helpful staff who still find the time to help customers with tight connections.
gloss: Not ragged; whole; neat; tidy.
pos: adj
tags: obsolete
examples: clad very plain, but clean and tight
I'll spin and card, and keep our children tight.
Richard: But here she comes! [...] (Enter Rose — he is much struck by her.) By the Port Admiral, but she's a tight little craft!
“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron; and she looked it, always trim and trig and smooth of surface like a converted yacht cleared for action. ¶ Near her wandered her husband[…]from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache.
gloss: Handy; adroit; brisk.
pos: adj
tags: obsolete
examples: [S]ince we've sailed together, I've been conning over in my mind that the company of such miserable thieves and robbers was not to your liking, and would not suit such a tight lad with as good larning ^([sic]) as yourself.
gloss: Of a player, who plays very few hands.
pos: adj
gloss: Using a strategy which involves playing very few hands.
pos: adj
gloss: With understeer, primarily used to describe NASCAR stock cars.
pos: adj
tags: US
slang
gloss: Angry or irritated.
pos: adj
tags: New-York
slang
examples: "I was trying to be like a lady, but y'all be getting me tight!"
gloss: Of a person, having a tight vagina or anus.
pos: adj
tags: slang
vulgar
examples: She was much tighter than he thought she would be. It had been a while since she had anything but oral sex she had an adrenaline rush as she heart began to pound.
She was very tight and wet at the same time. He never had sex with a maiden before.
One thing I noticed was that she was much tighter than Kari. She was so tight, in fact, that entering her was initially painful.
gloss: Firmly, so as not to come loose easily.
pos: adv
examples: Hold on tight to the rope.
'I had my eyes tight shut.'
gloss: Soundly.
pos: adv
examples: Good night, sleep tight.
Synonyms: close
serried
dense
tense
under tension
parsimonious
snug
tight-fitting
precise
plastered
cool
fab
rad
slick
shipshape
trim
dexterous
skilful
fast
firm
tight
trig
secure
crowded
narrow
polished
Antonyms: baggy
loose
sagging
saggy
slack
relaxed
generous
prodigal
scattergood
broad
capacious
open
roomy
spacious
wide
slapdash
sloppy
clearheaded
on the wagon
crap
naff
pathetic
rubbish
nice
pleasant
unruly
messy
bungling
maladroit
unskilful
antonym(s) of
badly
fitfully
Related words: tighten
Derived words: airtight
as tight as a duck's arse
tight as a duck's arse
as tight as a gnat's chuff
tight as a gnat's chuff
as tight as Dick's hatband
blow me tight
bottle-tight
finger-tight
finger tight
hand-tight
hang tight
high and tight
hog tight
hug-me-tight
in tight
keep a tight rein on
not wrapped too tight
on a tight leash
overtight
skintight
smoketight
stick-tight
sticktight
sun-tight
supertight
tight-arse
tight-arsed
tight as a drum
tight as a duck's ass
tight as a tick
tight as Dick's hatband
tightass
tight-assed
tightbeam
tight building syndrome
tight closure
tight-collar
tighten
tight end
tighter than Dick's hatband
tighter than wallpaper
tight-fisted
tight-fitting
tight five
tighthead
tighties
tightish
tight junction
tightknit
tight-knit
tight-laced
tightlacer
tightlacing
tight lattice
tight-lipped
tight lips
tightlock
tight loop
tightly
tight money
tightness
tight oil
tight pants syndrome
tightrope
tights
tight scratch
tight ship
tight slap
tightsome
tight spot
tightwad
tight whites
tightwire
tighty whities
ultratight
untight
uptight
vaportight
weapons tight
windtight
dust-tight
gastight
light-tight
oiltight
raintight
steamtight
watertight
weathertight
Translations:
lang: Albanian
word: ngjitur
lang: Albanian
word: njesh (gheh)
lang: Armenian
word: կիպ
roman: kip
lang: Central Bikol
word: piot
lang: Bulgarian
word: стегнат
roman: stegnat
lang: Chinese Mandarin
word: 緊 /紧
roman: jǐn
lang: Danish
word: snæver
lang: Dutch
word: strak
lang: German
word: knapp
lang: German
word: eng
lang: Greek
word: σφιχτός
roman: sfichtós
lang: Hungarian
word: szoros
lang: Indonesian
word: ketat
lang: Ingrian
word: kiintiä
lang: Māori
word: taparenga
lang: Māori
word: kita
lang: Māori
word: ita
lang: Marathi
word: घट्ट
roman: ghaṭṭa
lang: Norwegian
word: snever
lang: Plautdietsch
word: faust
lang: Polish
word: ciasny
lang: Russian
word: те́сный
roman: tésnyj
lang: Swedish
word: snäv
lang: Thai
word: แน่น
roman: nɛ̂n
lang: Turkish
word: bitişik
lang: Zazaki
word: pêpêya
lang: Arabic
word: ضَيِّق
roman: ḍayyiq
lang: Arabic
word: ضَيِّق
roman: ḍayyiq
lang: Arabic
word: محزق
roman: muḥazzag
lang: Armenian
word: ձիգ
roman: jig
lang: Armenian
word: նեղ
roman: neġ
lang: Armenian
word: կիպ
roman: kip
lang: Bashkir
word: тығыҙ
roman: tığıź
lang: Belarusian
word: це́сны
roman: cjésny
lang: Bulgarian
word: те́сен
roman: tésen
lang: Burmese
word: ကျပ်
roman: kyap
lang: Cebuano
word: hugot
lang: Chinese Cantonese
word: 緊 /紧
roman: gan²
lang: Chinese Mandarin
word: 緊 /紧
roman: jǐn
lang: Czech
word: těsný
lang: Dutch
word: dicht
lang: Esperanto
word: strikta
lang: Finnish
word: tiukka
lang: Finnish
word: kireä
lang: Finnish
word: timmi
lang: French
word: serré
lang: French
word: tendu
lang: German
word: eng
lang: German
word: dicht
lang: Greek
word: σφιχτός
roman: sfichtós
lang: Higaonon
word: hugut
lang: Hiligaynon
word: hugut
lang: Hungarian
word: szoros
lang: Icelandic
word: þrengdur
lang: Ingrian
word: kiintiä
lang: Italian
word: aderente
lang: Italian
word: teso
lang: Italian
word: stretto
lang: Japanese
word: きつい
roman: kitsui
lang: Khmer
word: តឹង
roman: təng
lang: Central Kurdish
word: تەنگ
roman: teng
lang: Northern Kurdish
word: teng
lang: Latgalian
word: stiprys
lang: Latgalian
word: styngrys
lang: Latin
word: strictus
lang: Latvian
word: ciešs
lang: Lithuanian
word: ankštas
lang: Macedonian
word: тесен
roman: tesen
lang: Māori
word: rawe
lang: Mizo
word: tâwt
lang: Old Church Slavonic
word: тѣснъ
roman: těsnŭ
lang: Old East Slavic
word: тѣснъ
roman: těsnŭ
lang: Persian
word: تنگ
roman: tang
lang: Polish
word: ciasny
lang: Portuguese
word: apertado
lang: Portuguese
word: justo
lang: Russian
word: те́сный
roman: tésnyj
lang: Serbo-Croatian
word: те́сан
lang: Serbo-Croatian
word: тије́сан
lang: Serbo-Croatian
word: tésan
lang: Serbo-Croatian
word: tijésan
lang: Slovak
word: tesný
lang: Slovene
word: tesen
lang: Spanish
word: apretado
lang: Spanish
word: ajustado
lang: Tày
word: cặp
lang: Thai
word: คับ
roman: káp
lang: Thai
word: แน่น
roman: nɛ̂n
lang: Ukrainian
word: тісни́й
roman: tisnýj
lang: Vietnamese
word: chật
lang: Yiddish
word: ענג
roman: eng
lang: Zazaki
word: tenge (diq)
lang: Bulgarian
word: оби́гран
roman: obígran
lang: Italian
word: nitido
lang: Albanian
word: ngushtë
lang: Albanian
word: cekët
lang: Bulgarian
word: сти́снат
roman: stísnat
lang: Māori
word: kaihākere
lang: Māori
word: porokaihākere
lang: Māori
word: matapiko
lang: Māori
word: matamau
lang: Māori
word: tūmatarau
lang: Māori
word: hākere
lang: Māori
word: ringa poto
lang: Punjabi
word: چَوَل
roman: caval