What does thickening mean?
Thickening names the process of becoming thicker or making something thicker. It can describe a physical change, such as cream thickening into a sauce or fog growing denser, and it can also refer to the substance used to produce that change. In culinary language, a thickening may be flour, starch, gelatin, or another ingredient added to a liquid to give it more body. The word is also used metaphorically for increasing opacity, density, pressure, or intensity, as in 'a thickening crowd' or 'a thickening crisis.' As an adjective, it often appears before a noun, such as 'thickening clouds,' while as a verb form it follows 'is' or 'was,' as in 'the broth is thickening.' The term is common in both British and American English and is generally neutral, though it can carry a mildly negative implication when used of problems or public concerns.
The process of becoming thicker or of making something thicker; also, a substance added to increase thickness.
"The gradual thickening of the sauce indicates that it is ready to serve."
In cooking, the noun can refer specifically to an ingredient used to thicken a liquid.
Becoming thicker, denser, or more pronounced.
"The thickening fog reduced visibility to almost nothing."
Common in descriptive expressions involving weather, crowds, traffic, or a developing situation.
The present participle of 'thicken,' meaning becoming thicker or making something thicker.
"The mixture is thickening as the heat continues to rise."
Often used in the progressive with 'is' or 'was.'
The standard plural of the noun, used when referring to separate instances of a process or substance that thickens something.
"These sauces use several different thickenings, including starch and gelatin."
A thickening can mean both a process and the ingredient doing the work: one pinch of starch is the thickening in a glossy sauce.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does thickening come from?
Thickening is formed in English from the adjective 'thick' together with the verbal suffix '-ening,' which produces a noun for a process and a present participle. The word 'thick' comes from Old English 'þicca' and belongs to a Germanic family that also includes cognates such as Dutch 'dik' and German 'dick.' The related forms 'thickness' and 'thicken' developed within English from the same Germanic root.
Related word forms
How thickening is actually used
The word is neutral in register. In culinary contexts, a 'thickening' usually means a starch, flour, gel, or other ingredient that helps a mixture thicken. In descriptive contexts, it can suggest increasing density, opacity, or concern, as in 'a thickening traffic jam' or 'the thickening debate.'
Easily confused with thickening
Thicken is the verb meaning to make something thicker or to become thicker, whereas thickening is the resulting process, a substance used to do this, or a participial form such as 'a thickening sauce'.