| 释义 |
dense
\ˈden(t)s\ adjective
(-er/-est)
Etymology: Latin densus; akin to Greek dasys thick with hair or leaves, Hittite dassuš strong
1.
a. : marked by an arrangement of parts or units so crowded or massed together as to defy penetration : notably lacking empty spaces or unfilled intervals
< the backs of the pinafores were dense with buttons — Natacha Stewart >
< if I went into dense jungle, by the time I was out of sight I was also lost — Agnes N. Keith >
b. : crowded very close together : massed together with little or no intervening space and consequently obstructing easy penetration through : concentrated in large numbers in a limited space
< every balcony, every housetop was crammed with a dense mass of spectators — J.G.Frazer >
< dense hardwood hammocks alternate with vast swamps — American Guide Series: Florida >
< the dense print of the directory — Jean Stafford >
2. biology : compact
< a dense flower spike >
3.
a. : insensible or dull
< human error's dense and purblind faith — P.B.Shelley >
b. : mentally dull : slow-witted, thick-headed
c. : extreme, intense
< dense stupidity >
4.
a. : marked by solidly interwoven texture, by texture permitting thick matting, by deep dark color, by opaqueness or other obstruction to passage of light, or by massive concentration
< a dense fabric >
< lost in a dense fog >
< the heart is a dense organ for X-ray purposes >
< her pallor made her dark hair seem denser — Edith Wharton >
b. : marked by presentation without lighter or less significant passages and demanding concentration to follow or comprehend
< her prose … so dense … that it is all but impenetrable — New Yorker >
5. mathematics : having between any two elements at least one element and hence an infinity of elements
< a set or proper fractions arranged in order of size is dense >
6. : possessing relatively great retarding power upon light waves and consequently relatively great refractive power — used especially of optical glass
7. : having high or relatively high density — used of a photographic negative or a positive transparency
Synonyms: see close, stupid |