Dense

Definition

Dense refers to something that is closely packed together, with little space between components. It can describe physical materials, ideas, or even groups of people, and it is often used to refer to things that are difficult to penetrate, understand, or that have high concentration or opacity.

Parts of Speech

• Adjective

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /dɛns/
• Respelling: dens

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /dɛns/
• Respelling: dens

The pronunciation of "dense" is the same in both American and British English.

Etymology

The word "dense" comes from the Latin "densus," meaning "thick or crowded." It entered the English language in the 15th century, originally carrying the same meaning of something being thick or tightly packed.

Derivatives

• Density (noun)
• Densely (adverb)
• Denseness (noun)
• Condense (verb)
• Indense (adjective)

Synonyms

• Thick
• Compact
• Opaque

Antonyms

• Sparse
• Light
• Clear

Usage

The term "dense" is widely used in scientific, everyday, and metaphorical contexts. It can describe physical objects, such as a dense forest or a dense liquid, or abstract ideas, such as dense writing or dense thought. In physics, it refers to materials that have a high mass per unit of volume. In literature, "dense" may be used to describe text that is difficult to understand or process.

Related Terms

• Compact: Tightly packed together; having little space between parts.
• Thickness: The quality or state of being thick.
• Impenetrable: Impossible to pass through or enter; difficult to understand.

Detailed Definitions

Adjective

• Closely packed together: Refers to something with little space between its components, such as particles or objects.
  • Example: "The jungle was so dense that we could barely walk through it."
• Hard to understand or penetrate: Used in abstract terms to describe complex or difficult-to-understand material.
  • Example: "The professor’s lecture was quite dense with information."
• Having high mass per unit volume: Refers to objects that are heavy for their size, common in scientific or physical contexts.
  • Example: "Lead is a very dense metal."