tight
1 fitting very closely
2 stretched or pulled hard
3 firm and difficult to move
1 fitting very closely
- fitting very closely: tight (adverbs tight, tightly)
This skirt is a bit tight around the waist. ◎ tight-fitting trousers/shoes
- so full of things or people that there is no spare space: tight (adverb tightly)
We can get one more person in, but it's a bit of a tight fit.
Note: before a past participle use tightly, not tight:
a tightly packed box ◎ a box packed tight with priceless jewels
- not fitting closely: loose (adverbs loose, loosely)
He's lost so much weight that all his clothes are loose on him. ◎ a loose-fitting blouse ◎ His clothes hung loosely from his body.
- (used about clothes) very loose: baggy
She was wearing jeans and a baggy T-shirt.
- (used about clothes) very tight: skintight
a pair of skintight jeans
- fitting closely without being tight: close-fitting
This dress should be close-fitting but not tight.
- to go into or through a place where there is not much space: squeeze into/through sth, squeeze in/through/past; to make sb/sth do this: squeeze sb/sth into sth, squeeze sb/sth in
The shoes were a bit small and I could hardly squeeze into them. ◎ There were a lot of people in the corridor but I managed to squeeze through. ◎ It's quite full but they may be able to try and squeeze one more person in.
- shoes that are too tight and hurt you pinch (you/your toes)
I think I need a larger size, they're pinching a little bit.
2 stretched or pulled hard
- stretched or pulled hard: tight (adverbs tight, tightly)
a tight belt/rope ◎ Pull the rope tight!
- stretched very tight: taut
- not stretched or pulled hard: loose, slack (adverb loosely)
When people get old, their skin starts to become looser. ◎ The belt was loose around his waist.
- to become looser: loosen, slacken; to make sth looser: loosen sth, slacken sth
The rope slackened when they let go of it.
3 firm and difficult to move
- firm and difficult to move: tight (adverb tight, tightly)
I can't open the drawer - it's too tight.
- to become tighter: tighten; to make sth tighter: tighten sth
to tighten a nut/screw/lid
- not firmly fixed: loose (adverb loosely)
Be careful, the door handle is loose - it'll come off if you pull too hard. ◎ a loose knot ◎ to tie sth loosely
- to make sth less tight: loosen sth
Can you loosen the lid on the jar?
- to take or keep hold of sth firmly or tightly: grip sth; noun: grip
to grip sth tightly ◎ You must keep a tight grip on the rope - don't let it slip out of your hand.
- something that stops air, liquid, etc getting in or out of sth: seal; verb: seal sth (up)
to seal up a box/package/window
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