tighttight1 /taɪt/ ●●● S2 W2 adjective 1
CLOTHES fitting a part of your body very closely, especially in a way that is uncomfortable OPP loose: a tight skirt This jacket is too tight. → see also skin-tight, tight-fitting2PULLED/STRETCHED string, wire, cloth, etc. that is tight has been pulled or stretched firmly so that it is straight or cannot move OPP loose: If the straps aren’t tight enough, the saddle can slip. She tied the rope around the post and pulled it tight.3a tight hold/grip (on somebody/something) a)a firm hold on something: His mother had a tight hold on his hand. b) (also a tight rein (on somebody/something)) a situation in which someone controls someone or something very strictly: The new business manager has a tight hold on the budget. We need to keep a tight rein on costs.4STRICTLY CONTROLLED controlled very strictly and firmly: tight limits on weapons testing Security at the conference was extremely tight.5FIRMLY ATTACHED/FASTENED something such as a screw or lid that is tight is firmly fastened and is difficult to move: Make sure the lid is tight enough so that it won’t leak.6LITTLE MONEY if money is tight, you do not have enough of it: Money has been really tight because we had major car problems.7LITTLE TIME if time is tight, it is difficult for you to do everything you need to do in the time available: My schedule is very tight right now, but I’ll try to fit you in. a tight deadline8FEW JOBS/PRODUCTS ETC. a tight market is a situation in which not many jobs, products, etc. are available: Companies have had to raise salaries in this tight labor market (=one in which few workers are available).9LITTLE SPACE if space is tight, there is just barely enough space to fit something into a place: a tight squeeze/fit Three adults in the back seat would be a tight squeeze.10CLOSE RELATIONSHIP a tight group of people, countries, etc. have a close relationship with each other and are closely connected with each other SYN tight-knit11run a tight ship to manage a company, organization, etc. very effectively by having strict rules12in a tight spot/situation/corner informal in a difficult situation: I got into a tight spot but it’s okay now.13CLOSE TOGETHER placed or standing very close together OPP loose: The planes approached in a tight grouping.14TURN/BEND a tight turn, bend, corner, etc. is very curved and turns very quickly to another direction: Danny lost control on a tight bend, and the car ran off the road.15SMILE/EXPRESSION/VOICE ETC. showing that you are annoyed or upset: Her mother gave a tight forced smile. → see also tight-lipped16NOT GENEROUS informal disapproving not generous or trying very hard to avoid spending money: Ken hasn’t always been so tight with money. → see also tight-fisted17CHEST/STOMACH ETC. feeling painful, stiff, or uncomfortable because you are sick or worried: My chest was tight with tension.18PLAY/PERFORMANCE performed very exactly, with no unnecessary pauses: a tight, well-rehearsed production19GAME/COMPETITION a tight game, competition, etc. is one in which the teams, competitors, etc. all play well and it is not easy to win SYN close: They eventually won the tight game in the fourth quarter.20DRUNK [not before noun] old-fashioned informal drunk[Origin: 1400–1500 thight closely packed, solid, thick (14–19 centuries)] → see also airtight, watertight—tightly adverb: Cover the pan tightly with foil.—tightness noun [uncountable]
CLOTHES fitting a part of your body very closely, especially in a way that is uncomfortable OPP loose: a tight skirt This jacket is too tight. → see also skin-tight, tight-fitting2PULLED/STRETCHED string, wire, cloth, etc. that is tight has been pulled or stretched firmly so that it is straight or cannot move OPP loose: If the straps aren’t tight enough, the saddle can slip. She tied the rope around the post and pulled it tight.3a tight hold/grip (on somebody/something) a)a firm hold on something: His mother had a tight hold on his hand. b) (also a tight rein (on somebody/something)) a situation in which someone controls someone or something very strictly: The new business manager has a tight hold on the budget. We need to keep a tight rein on costs.4STRICTLY CONTROLLED controlled very strictly and firmly: tight limits on weapons testing Security at the conference was extremely tight.5FIRMLY ATTACHED/FASTENED something such as a screw or lid that is tight is firmly fastened and is difficult to move: Make sure the lid is tight enough so that it won’t leak.6LITTLE MONEY if money is tight, you do not have enough of it: Money has been really tight because we had major car problems.7LITTLE TIME if time is tight, it is difficult for you to do everything you need to do in the time available: My schedule is very tight right now, but I’ll try to fit you in. a tight deadline8FEW JOBS/PRODUCTS ETC. a tight market is a situation in which not many jobs, products, etc. are available: Companies have had to raise salaries in this tight labor market (=one in which few workers are available).9LITTLE SPACE if space is tight, there is just barely enough space to fit something into a place: a tight squeeze/fit Three adults in the back seat would be a tight squeeze.10CLOSE RELATIONSHIP a tight group of people, countries, etc. have a close relationship with each other and are closely connected with each other SYN tight-knit11run a tight ship to manage a company, organization, etc. very effectively by having strict rules12in a tight spot/situation/corner informal in a difficult situation: I got into a tight spot but it’s okay now.13CLOSE TOGETHER placed or standing very close together OPP loose: The planes approached in a tight grouping.14TURN/BEND a tight turn, bend, corner, etc. is very curved and turns very quickly to another direction: Danny lost control on a tight bend, and the car ran off the road.15SMILE/EXPRESSION/VOICE ETC. showing that you are annoyed or upset: Her mother gave a tight forced smile. → see also tight-lipped16NOT GENEROUS informal disapproving not generous or trying very hard to avoid spending money: Ken hasn’t always been so tight with money. → see also tight-fisted17CHEST/STOMACH ETC. feeling painful, stiff, or uncomfortable because you are sick or worried: My chest was tight with tension.18PLAY/PERFORMANCE performed very exactly, with no unnecessary pauses: a tight, well-rehearsed production19GAME/COMPETITION a tight game, competition, etc. is one in which the teams, competitors, etc. all play well and it is not easy to win SYN close: They eventually won the tight game in the fourth quarter.20DRUNK [not before noun] old-fashioned informal drunk[Origin: 1400–1500 thight closely packed, solid, thick (14–19 centuries)] → see also airtight, watertight—tightly adverb: Cover the pan tightly with foil.—tightness noun [uncountable]