dense (adj.)

early 15c., "closely compacted, thick," from Latin densus "thick, crowded; cloudy," which is of uncertain etymology, perhaps related to Greek dasys "hairy, shaggy; thick with leaves," as a grammatical term, "aspirated," but even this is in doubt. Figurative sense of "difficult to penetrate" (of writing, etc.) is from 1732; that of "stupid" is first recorded 1822. Related: Densely; denseness.

Entries linking to dense

condense (v.)

early 15c., "thicken, make more dense or compact" (implied in condensed), from Old French condenser (14c.) or directly from Latin condensare "to make dense," from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + densare "make thick," from densus "dense, thick, crowded," a word used of crowds, darkness, clouds, etc. (see dense).

Sense in chemistry and physics, "to reduce to another and denser form" (as a gas or vapor to a liquid) is from 1660s. Intransitive sense "become denser" is from 1650s. Related: Condensed; condensing.

densimeter (n.)

"apparatus for ascertaining the comparative density of a solid or liquid," 1848; see dense + -meter.

density (n.)

c. 1600, "quality of being very close or compact," from French densité (16c.), from Old French dempsité (13c.), from Latin densitas "thickness," from densus "thick, dense" (see dense). In physics, "the mass of matter per unit of bulk," 1660s.

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Definitions of dense

dense (adj.)

permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter;

dense smoke

Synonyms: heavy / impenetrable

dense (adj.)

hard to pass through because of dense growth;

dense vegetation

Synonyms: thick

dense (adj.)

having high relative density or specific gravity;

dense as lead

dense (adj.)

slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; "although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick"- Thackeray;

so dense he never understands anything I say to him

Synonyms: dim / dull / dumb / obtuse / slow

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near dense

denotation

denotative

denote

denouement

denounce

dense

densimeter

density

dent

*dent-

dental