释义 |
▪ I. thickening, vbl. n.|ˈθɪk(ə)nɪŋ| [f. as prec. + -ing1.] The action of the verb thicken; the process of making or becoming thick or thicker; concr. the result of this action or process; a thickened substance or part.
1580Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Espessissement, a thickening. 1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 998 Mists, fogs, and clouds are no congealations, but onely gatherings, and thickenings of a moist and vapourous aire. 1822J. Parkinson Outl. Oryctol. 159 A subglobose univalve; the opening longer than wide;..no thickening of the left lip. 1893Tuckey tr. Hatschek's Amphioxus 154 He was misled by a thickening of the alimentary canal in front of the gland. 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 511 Eczema of the palms very frequently leads..to great thickening of the epidermis. c1900Beeton's Everyday Cookery Bk. 209/2 By the addition of various store sauces, thickening and flavouring, good stock may be converted into good gravies. b. A substance used to thicken something; spec. in Dyeing. = thickener.
1839Ure Dict. Arts, etc. 222 Several circumstances may require the consistence of the thickening to be varied. 1874W. Crookes Dyeing & Calico-print. ii. 17 Only two mineral thickenings are at present employed, namely, kaolin and pipe-clay. c. Foundry = thickness 8.
1872Ellacombe Bells of Ch. i. 200 When thoroughly dried, the outer mould is removed, and the thickening (the fac-simile of the bell) destroyed. d. Bot. thickening layer, thickening mass, thickening ring (Ger. verdickungsring): see quots.
1875Bennett & Dyer tr. Sachs's Bot. 27 A wider cavity, which is bounded on the sides by the narrow part of the thickening-masses, on the outside by the primary cell-wall. Ibid. 108 Generating ring of tissue, corresponding to Sanio's thickening ring. 1900B. D. Jackson Gloss. Bot. Terms 270/2 Thickening Layer, an apparent layer of cellulose on the inner face of a cell-wall; Thickening Ring, Sanio's term for a ring of meristem in which the first fibro⁓vascular bundles originate. ▪ II. thickening, ppl. a.|ˈθɪk(ə)nɪŋ| [f. as prec. + -ing2.] That thickens: a. That grows thicker; b. That makes something thick or thicker.
1721J. Dart Westminster Abbey 57 When Learning was with thick'ning Mists o'erspread. 1784Cowper Task iv. 330 Earth receives Gladly the thickening mantle [snow]. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xii. 88 At the close of the day thickening clouds warned me off. 1880Browning Dram. Idylls, Pan & Luna 10 Fast-thickening poppy-juice. 1895Model Steam Engine 69 The thickening piece is soldered to the boiler. |