adj.
- fixed or fastened firmly; hard to move, undo, or open.
▸(of clothes) close-fitting, especially uncomfortably so.
▸(of a grip) very firm.
▸well sealed against something such as water or air.
- (of a rope, fabric, or surface) stretched so as to leave no slack.
▸tense:
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a tight smile.
- (of a form of control) strictly imposed:
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security was tight at the ceremony.
- (of a written work or form) concise.
- (of an organization or group) disciplined or well coordinated.
- (of an area or space) allowing little room for manoeuvre.
▸(of money or time) limited; restricted:
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a tight deadline.
- secretive.
- Brit. informal not willing to spend or give much money; mean.
- informal drunk.
adv.
very firmly, closely, or tensely.
Phrase
- a tight ship
a strictly controlled and disciplined organization or operation. - a tight corner
(or spot or place)
a difficult situation.
Derivative
- tighten v.
- tightly adv.
- tightness n.
Etymology
ME (in the sense ‘healthy, vigorous’, later ‘firm, solid’): prob. an alt. of thight ‘firm, solid’, later ‘close-packed, dense’, of Gmc origin.
