Meaning of dense in English

1. Pronunciation

   /dɛns/

   US accent

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   UK accent

   How to pronounce dense in British English, in context ▾
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1. Classifying Adjective

   dense

   Definitions

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

   Examples

   • « dense smoke »
   • « heavy fog »
   • « impenetrable gloom »

   Synonyms

   • thick
2. 2. closely crowded together

   Examples

   • « a compact shopping center »
   • « a dense population »
   • « thick crowds »

   Synonyms

   • concentrated
3. 3. hard to pass through because of dense growth

   Examples

   • « dense vegetation »
   • « thick woods »

   Synonyms

   • impenetrable
4. 4. having high relative density or specific gravity

   Examples

   • « dense as lead »

   Synonyms

   • heavy
5. 5. slow to learn or understand

   Examples

   • « lacking intellectual acuity »
   • « so dense he never understands anything I say to him »
   • « never met anyone quite so dim »
   • « although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick- Thackeray »
   • « dumb officials mak »

   Synonyms

   • stupid