Thick vs. Curvy: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 3, 2023
"Thick" refers to a considerable extent from one surface to its opposite, while "Curvy" describes a shape characterized by curves, often in reference to a human body's shape.
Key Differences
"Thick" and "Curvy" are two words often used to describe objects, particularly in relation to their shape or form. However, their meanings, while sometimes overlapping, are distinct. "Thick" typically refers to the breadth or depth of an object, emphasizing its dimension. For instance, a thick book has many pages, and a thick slice of bread is not thinly cut.
In contrast, "Curvy" usually describes a shape that is not straight or angular but has a series of bends or curves. When we think of "Curvy," it often brings to mind winding roads or rivers. In contemporary usage, "Curvy" also frequently describes a body shape that has pronounced curves, typically in reference to women's figures.
The word "Thick" has broader applications. It can be used to describe numerous objects, from a thick forest (dense with trees) to thick fog (heavy and obscuring). It's primarily about density and dimension. Meanwhile, "Curvy" is more about the structure and form, defining something that deviates from the straight and narrow.
To highlight the distinction further, consider this: a "Thick" rope may have a large diameter, while a "Curvy" line has bends and twists. Though both words can sometimes be used in overlapping contexts, especially in colloquial speech, their fundamental meanings remain separate.
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Extensive in breadth or depth
Characterized by curves
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Common Usage
Describing dimension or density
Describing a shape or form
Example of Object
A thick book
A curvy road
Body Reference
Sometimes used colloquially for fuller body proportions
Often denotes a body with pronounced curves
Antonym
Thin
Straight
Thick and Curvy Definitions
Thick
Having a broad extent from one side to the other.
The blanket was thick and warm.
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Curvy
Having a well-proportioned feminine figure.
She had a curvy silhouette.
Thick
Dense in consistency or arrangement.
The forest was thick with trees.
Curvy
Having a series of bends.
The mountain road was curvy.
Thick
Difficult to see or hear through.
The morning had thick fog.
Curvy
Designed with elegant and fluid lines.
The new car model is curvy and sleek.
Thick
Lacking intelligence or understanding.
He's a bit thick, isn't he?
Curvy
Having an outline composed chiefly of curves.
The vase had a curvy design.
Thick
Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite, usually in the smallest solid dimension; not thin
A thick board.
Curvy
Not straight or direct.
The path was curvy and long.
Thick
Measuring a specified number of units in this dimension
Two inches thick.
Curvy
A line that deviates from straightness in a smooth, continuous fashion.
Thick
Heavy in form, build, or stature; thickset
A thick neck.
Curvy
A surface that deviates from planarity in a smooth, continuous fashion.
Thick
Having component parts in a close, crowded state or arrangement; dense
A thick forest.
Curvy
Something characterized by such a line or surface, especially a rounded line or contour of the human body.
Thick
Having or suggesting a heavy or viscous consistency
Thick tomato sauce.
Curvy
A relatively smooth bend in a road or other course.
Thick
Having a great number; abounding
A room thick with flies.
Curvy
A line representing data on a graph.
Thick
Impenetrable by the eyes
A thick fog.
Curvy
A trend derived from or as if from such a graph
"Once again, the politicians are behind the curve" (Ted Kennedy).
Thick
Hard to hear or understand, as from being husky or slurred
Thick speech.
Curvy
A graphic representation showing the relative performance of individuals as measured against each other, used especially as a method of grading students in which the assignment of grades is based on predetermined proportions of students.
Thick
Very noticeable; pronounced
Has a thick accent.
Curvy
The graph of a function on a coordinate plane.
Thick
(Informal) Lacking mental agility; stupid.
Curvy
The intersection of two surfaces in three dimensions.
Thick
(Informal) Very friendly; intimate
Thick friends.
Curvy
The graph of the solutions to any equation of two variables.
Thick
(Informal) Going beyond what is tolerable; excessive.
Curvy
(Baseball) A curve ball.
Thick
In a thick manner; deeply or heavily
Seashells lay thick on the beach.
Curvy
(Slang) Something that is unexpected or designed to trick or deceive.
Thick
In a close, compact state or arrangement; densely
Dozens of braids hung thick from the back of her head.
Curvy
To move in or take the shape of a curve
The path curves around the lake.
Thick
So as to be thick; thickly
Slice the bread thick for the best French toast.
Curvy
To cause to curve.
Thick
The thickest part.
Curvy
(Baseball) To pitch (a ball) with a curve.
Thick
The most active or intense part
In the thick of the fighting.
Curvy
To grade (students, for example) on a curve.
Thick
Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite in its smallest solid dimension.
Curvy
Having curves.
Thick
Measuring a certain number of units in this dimension.
I want some planks that are two inches thick.
Curvy
Or curvaceous.
Thick
Heavy in build; thickset.
He had such a thick neck that he had to turn his body to look to the side.
Curvy
Having curves;
A settee with only one curvy end
Thick
Densely crowded or packed.
We walked through thick undergrowth.
Curvy
(of a woman's body) having a large bosom and pleasing curves;
Hollywood seems full of curvaceous blondes
A curvy young woman in a tight dress
Thick
Having a viscous consistency.
My mum’s gravy was thick but at least it moved about.
Thick
Abounding in number.
The room was thick with reporters.
Thick
Impenetrable to sight.
We drove through thick fog.
Thick
(Of an accent) Prominent, strong.
Thick
Greatly evocative of one's nationality or place of origin.
He answered me in his characteristically thick Creole patois.
Thick
Difficult to understand, or poorly articulated.
We had difficulty understanding him with his thick accent.
Thick
(informal) Stupid.
He was as thick as two short planks.
Thick
(informal) Friendly or intimate.
They were as thick as thieves.
Thick
Deep, intense, or profound.
Thick darkness.
Thick
(academic) Detailed and expansive; substantive.
Thick
Troublesome; unreasonable
Thick
Curvy and voluptuous, and especially having large hips.
Thick
In a thick manner.
Snow lay thick on the ground.
Thick
Frequently or numerously.
The arrows flew thick and fast around us.
Thick
The thickest, or most active or intense, part of something.
It was mayhem in the thick of battle.
Thick
A thicket.
Thick
(slang) A stupid person; a fool.
Thick
To thicken.
Thick
Measuring in the third dimension other than length and breadth, or in general dimension other than length; - said of a solid body; as, a timber seven inches thick.
Were it as thick as is a branched oak.
My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
Thick
Having more depth or extent from one surface to its opposite than usual; not thin or slender; as, a thick plank; thick cloth; thick paper; thick neck.
Thick
Dense; not thin; inspissated; as, thick vapors. Also used figuratively; as, thick darkness.
Make the gruel thick and slab.
Thick
Not transparent or clear; hence, turbid, muddy, or misty; as, the water of a river is apt to be thick after a rain.
Thick
Abundant, close, or crowded in space; closely set; following in quick succession; frequently recurring.
The people were gathered thick together.
Black was the forest; thick with beech it stood.
Thick
Not having due distinction of syllables, or good articulation; indistinct; as, a thick utterance.
Thick
Deep; profound; as, thick sleep.
Thick
Dull; not quick; as, thick of fearing.
His dimensions to any thick sight were invincible.
Thick
Intimate; very friendly; familiar.
We have been thick ever since.
Thick
The thickest part, or the time when anything is thickest.
In the thick of the dust and smoke.
Thick
A thicket; as, gloomy thicks.
Through the thick they heard one rudely rush.
He through a little window cast his sightThrough thick of bars, that gave a scanty light.
Through thick and thin she followed him.
He became the panegyrist, through thick and thin, of a military frenzy.
Thick
Frequently; fast; quick.
Thick
Closely; as, a plat of ground thick sown.
Thick
To a great depth, or to a greater depth than usual; as, land covered thick with manure.
Thick
To thicken.
The nightmare Life-in-death was she,Who thicks man's blood with cold.
Thick
The location of something surrounded by other things;
In the midst of the crowd
Thick
Not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions;
An inch thick
A thick board
A thick sandwich
Spread a thick layer of butter
Thick coating of dust
Thick warm blankets
Thick
Closely crowded together;
A compact shopping center
A dense population
Thick crowds
Thick
Relatively dense in consistency;
Thick cream
Thick soup
Thick smoke
Thick fog
Thick
Spoken as if with a thick tongue;
The thick speech of a drunkard
His words were slurred
Thick
Wide from side to side;
A heavy black mark
Thick
Hard to pass through because of dense growth;
Dense vegetation
Thick woods
Thick
(of darkness) very intense;
Thick night
Thick darkness
A face in deep shadow
Deep night
Thick
Abundant;
A thick head of hair
Thick
Heavy and compact in form or stature;
A wrestler of compact build
He was tall and heavyset
Stocky legs
A thick middle-aged man
A thickset young man
Thick
(used informally) associated on close terms;
A close friend
The bartender was chummy with the regular customers
The two were thick as thieves for months
Thick
Used informally
Thick
Abundantly covered or filled;
The top was thick with dust
Thick
With a thick consistency;
The blood was flowing thick
Thick
In quick succession;
Misfortunes come fast and thick
Thick
In large amounts.
She applied the cream thickly on her skin.
FAQs
Does "Curvy" always compliment a body shape?
It's often seen as a compliment, but context matters.
Can "Curvy" be used for inanimate objects?
Yes, like roads or designs.
Can "Thick" describe a liquid's consistency?
Yes, like "thick soup."
Is "Thick" always physical?
Mostly, but it can be metaphorical, like "thick with tension."
Can "Thick" refer to a person's intellect?
Colloquially, it can mean "slow-witted."
Can you say a road is "Thick"?
Not usually. "Wide" is more appropriate.
Is "Thick" always about size?
No, it can also describe density or consistency.
Is "Thick" the opposite of "Thin"?
Yes, they are antonyms.
Can "Curvy" describe art?
Yes, it can refer to art with flowing lines.
Is "Curvy" the opposite of "Straight"?
In terms of shape, yes.
Can "Curvy" describe a sound?
Not typically; it's more visual.
Can "Thick" mean close friendship?
In phrases like "thick as thieves," yes.
Is "Curvy" related to "Curvaceous"?
Yes, both describe a shape with curves.
How is "Thick" different from "Wide"?
"Thick" emphasizes depth; "Wide" emphasizes breadth.
Is "Thick" always positive?
No, it depends on context.
Is "Curvy" a modern term?
While its use for body shape is modern, its basic meaning is old.
Can "Curvy" refer to a series of events?
Not usually; it's about shape or form.
Can "Curvy" mean complicated?
Not directly, but a "curvy path" might be seen as such.
Can "Thick" describe emotions?
Yes, like "the tension was thick."
Is "Thick" used in any idioms?
Yes, like "in the thick of it."
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
