Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

4 ADV [ADV -ed, ADV after v] Something that is shut tight is shut very firmly. □  I keep the flour and sugar in individual jars, sealed tight with their glass lids. □  She kept her eyes tight closed. ●  tight|ly ADV [ADV after v, ADV -ed] □  Pemberton frowned and closed his eyes tightly.

5 ADJ Skin, cloth, or string that is tight is stretched or pulled so that it is smooth or straight. □  My skin feels tight and lacking in moisture. ●  tight|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  Her sallow skin was drawn tightly across the bones of her face.

6 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Tight is used to describe a group of things or an amount of something that is closely packed together. □  She curled up in a tight ball, with her knees tucked up at her chin. □  The men came in a tight group. ● ADV Tight is also an adverb. □  The people sleep on sun loungers packed tight, end to end. ●  tight|ly ADV [ADV after v, ADV -ed] □  Many animals travel in tightly packed lorries and are deprived of food, water and rest.

7 ADJ If a part of your body is tight , it feels rather uncomfortable and painful, for example because you are ill, anxious, or angry. □  It is better to stretch the tight muscles first. ●  tight|ness N‑UNCOUNT □  Heart disease often shows itself first as pain or tightness in the chest.

8 ADJ A tight group of people is one whose members are closely linked by beliefs, feelings, or interests. □  We're a tight group, so we do keep in touch.

9 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A tight bend or corner is one that changes direction very quickly so that you cannot see very far round it. □  They collided on a tight bend and both cars were extensively damaged.

10 ADJ A tight schedule or budget allows very little time or money for unexpected events or expenses. □  It's difficult to cram everything into a tight schedule. □  Financially things are a bit tight.

11 ADJ A tight contest is one where none of the competitors has a clear advantage or looks likely to win, so that it is difficult to say who the winner will be. □  It was a very tight match.

12 ADJ If you say that someone is tight , you disapprove of them because they are unwilling to spend their money. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  The theatre was too tight to pay for any champagne for its stars.

13 → see also airtight , skin-tight

14 PHRASE If you are in a tight corner or in a tight spot , you are in a difficult situation. [INFORMAL ] □  That puts the president in a tight spot if the vote is not a resounding 'yes'.

15 CONVENTION You can say ' sleep tight ' to someone when they are going to bed as an affectionate way of saying that you hope they will sleep well. □  Good night, Davey. Sleep tight.

16to keep a tight rein on → see rein

17to sit tight → see sit

tight|en /ta I t ^ə n/ (tightens , tightening , tightened )

1 VERB If you tighten your grip on something, or if your grip tightens , you hold the thing more firmly or securely. □ [V n] Luke answered by tightening his grip on her shoulder. □ [V prep] Her arms tightened about his neck in gratitude. □ [V ] Stefano's grip tightened and his tone became colder.

2 VERB If you tighten a rope or chain, or if it tightens , it is stretched or pulled hard until it is straight. □ [V n] The anchorman flung his whole weight back, tightening the rope. □ [V ] The cables tightened and he was lifted gradually from the deck.