• (America) IPA: /ˈθɪkən/

thicken (thickens, present participle thickening; past and past participle thickened)

1. (transitive) To make thicker (in the sense of wider).
2. (transitive) To make thicker (in the sense of more viscous).

   to thicken a sauce

3. (intransitive) To become thicker (in the sense of wider).
4. (intransitive) To become thicker (in the sense of more viscous).
5. (transitive) To strengthen; to confirm.
   • c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene iii]:

     This fell whore of thine, / Hath in her more deſtruction then thy Sword, / For all her Cherubin looke.

6. (transitive) To make more frequent.

   to thicken blows

• (make wider) broaden, enwiden; see also Thesaurus:widen
• (make more viscous) condense, engross, inspissate; see also Thesaurus:thicken
• (become wider) widen
• (become more viscous) inspissate
• (strengthen) build up, reinforce; see also Thesaurus:strengthen
• (make more frequent)

• thickener
• the plot thickens

• French: épaissir
• Russian: утолща́ть

• French: épaissir, lier
• Russian: сгуща́ть
• Spanish: espesar

• French: s'épaissir, épaissir
• Russian: утолща́ться

• French: s'épaissir, se densifier, épaissir
• Russian: сгуща́ться