Thick vs. Fat — What's the Difference?

Having a large distance between opposite sides.

Having a lot of excess flesh.

Dense or closely packed.

The natural oily substance occurring in animal bodies.

Not flowing easily, viscous.

In nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food.The term often refers specifically to triglycerides (triple esters of glycerol), that are the main components of vegetable oils and of fatty tissue in animals; or, even more narrowly, to triglycerides that are solid or semisolid at room temperature, thus excluding oils. The term may also be used more broadly as a synonym of lipid—any substance of biological relevance, composed of carbon, hydrogen, or oxygen, that is insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvents.

Substantial in quantity.

A natural oily substance occurring in animal bodies, especially when deposited as a layer under the skin or around certain organs

With opposite sides or surfaces that are far or relatively far apart

Any of a group of natural esters of glycerol and various fatty acids, which are solid at room temperature and are the main constituents of animal and vegetable fat

Made up of a large number of things or people close together

(of a person or animal) having a large amount of excess flesh

(of a liquid or a semi-liquid substance) relatively firm in consistency; not flowing freely

Large in bulk or circumference

Of low intelligence; stupid

Make or become fat

(of a voice) not clear or distinct; hoarse or husky

The ester of glycerol and one, two, or three fatty acids.

Having a very close, friendly relationship

Any of various soft, solid, or semisolid organic compounds constituting the esters of glycerol and fatty acids and their associated organic groups.

The most active or crowded part of something

A mixture of such compounds occurring widely in organic tissue, especially in the adipose tissue of animals and in the seeds, nuts, and fruits of plants.

In or with deep, dense, or heavy mass

Animal tissue containing such substances.

Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite, usually in the smallest solid dimension; not thin

A solidified animal or vegetable oil.

Measuring a specified number of units in this dimension

Obesity; corpulence

Heavy in form, build, or stature; thickset

Unnecessary excess

Having component parts in a close, crowded state or arrangement; dense

Having much or too much fat or flesh; plump or obese.

Having or suggesting a heavy or viscous consistency

Full of fat or oil; greasy.

Having a great number; abounding

Abounding in desirable elements

Impenetrable by the eyes

Fertile or productive; rich

Hard to hear or understand, as from being husky or slurred

Having an abundance or amplitude; well-stocked

Very noticeable; pronounced

Yielding profit or plenty; lucrative or rewarding

(Informal) Lacking mental agility; stupid.

Prosperous; wealthy

(Informal) Very friendly; intimate

Thick; large

(Informal) Going beyond what is tolerable; excessive.

Puffed up; swollen

In a thick manner; deeply or heavily

To make or become fat; fatten.

In a close, compact state or arrangement; densely

Carrying more fat than usual on one's body; plump; not lean or thin.

So as to be thick; thickly

Thick; large.

The thickest part.

Bulbous; rotund.

The most active or intense part

Bountiful.

Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite in its smallest solid dimension.

Oily; greasy; unctuous; rich said of food.

Measuring a certain number of units in this dimension.

(obsolete) Exhibiting the qualities of a fat animal; coarse; heavy; gross; dull; stupid.

Heavy in build; thickset.

Fertile; productive.

Densely crowded or packed.

Rich; producing a large income; desirable.

Having a viscous consistency.

Abounding in riches; affluent; fortunate.

Abounding in number.

Of a character which enables the compositor to make large wages; said of matter containing blank, cuts, or many leads, etc.

Impenetrable to sight.

(golf) Being a shot in which the ground is struck before the ball.

(Of an accent) Prominent, strong.

(theatre) Of a role: significant; major; meaty.

Greatly evocative of one's nationality or place of origin.

Alternative form of phat

Difficult to understand, or poorly articulated.

(uncountable) A specialized animal tissue with high lipid content, used for long-term storage of energy: fat tissue.

(informal) Stupid.

Such tissue as food: the fatty portion of (or trimmings from) meat cuts.

(informal) Friendly or intimate.

(countable) A lipid that is solid at room temperature, which fat tissue contains and which is also found in the blood circulation; sometimes, a refined substance chemically resembling such naturally occurring lipids.

Deep, intense, or profound.

That part of an organization deemed wasteful.

(academic) Detailed and expansive; substantive.

(slang) An erection.

Troublesome; unreasonable

(golf) A poorly played shot where the ball is struck by the top part of the club head. (see also thin, shank, toe)

Curvy and voluptuous, and especially having large hips.

The best or richest productions; the best part.

In a thick manner.

Work containing much blank, or its equivalent, and therefore profitable to the compositor.

Frequently or numerously.

A fat person.

The thickest, or most active or intense, part of something.

A beef cattle fattened for sale.

A thicket.

(obsolete) A large tub or vessel for water, wine, or other liquids; a cistern.

(slang) A stupid person; a fool.

(obsolete) A dry measure, generally equal to nine bushels.

To thicken.

To make fat; to fatten.

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.

To become fat; to fatten.

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.

To hit a golf ball with a fat shot.

Dense; not thin; inspissated; as, thick vapors. Also used figuratively; as, thick darkness.

A large tub, cistern, or vessel; a vat.

Not transparent or clear; hence, turbid, muddy, or misty; as, the water of a river is apt to be thick after a rain.

A measure of quantity, differing for different commodities.

Abundant, close, or crowded in space; closely set; following in quick succession; frequently recurring.

An oily liquid or greasy substance making up the main bulk of the adipose tissue of animals, and widely distributed in the seeds of plants. See Adipose tissue, under Adipose.

Not having due distinction of syllables, or good articulation; indistinct; as, a thick utterance.

The best or richest productions; the best part; as, to live on the fat of the land.

Deep; profound; as, thick sleep.

Work. containing much blank, or its equivalent, and, therefore, profitable to the compositor.

Dull; not quick; as, thick of fearing.

Abounding with fat

Intimate; very friendly; familiar.

Exhibiting the qualities of a fat animal; coarse; heavy; gross; dull; stupid.

The thickest part, or the time when anything is thickest.

Fertile; productive; as, a fat soil; a fat pasture.

A thicket; as, gloomy thicks.

Rich; producing a large income; desirable; as, a fat benefice; a fat office; a fat job.

Frequently; fast; quick.

Abounding in riches; affluent; fortunate.

Closely; as, a plat of ground thick sown.

Of a character which enables the compositor to make large wages; - said of matter containing blank, cuts, or many leads, etc.; as, a fat take; a fat page.

To a great depth, or to a greater depth than usual; as, land covered thick with manure.

To make fat; to fatten; to make plump and fleshy with abundant food; as, to fat fowls or sheep.

To thicken.

To grow fat, plump, and fleshy.

The location of something surrounded by other things;

A soft greasy substance occurring in organic tissue and consisting of a mixture of lipids (mostly triglycerides);

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;

A kind of body tissue containing stored fat that serves as a source of energy; adipose tissue also cushions and insulates vital organs;

Closely crowded together;

Excess bodily weight;

Relatively dense in consistency;

Make fat or plump;

Spoken as if with a thick tongue;

Having much flesh (especially fat);

Wide from side to side;

Having a relatively large diameter;

Hard to pass through because of dense growth;

Containing or composed of fat;

(of darkness) very intense;

Lucrative;

Abundant;

Marked by great fruitfulness;

Heavy and compact in form or stature;

A chubby body;

(used informally) associated on close terms;

Large in amount or size.

Used informally

Rich or lucrative.

Abundantly covered or filled;

Plentiful or abundant.

With a thick consistency;

In quick succession;

Not clear or distinct; muffled.

Thick primarily describes an object’s dimension from one surface to its opposite.

Yes, thick can describe a liquid that is not flowing easily or is viscous.

Yes, thick can have a positive connotation, like a thick carpet or thick hair.

Fat refers to having excess flesh or adipose tissue, often related to body weight.

Fat often has a negative connotation, especially regarding body weight, but it can be neutral when referring to food ingredients.

No, thick and fat are not interchangeable as they describe different attributes.

Yes, but it usually refers to specific attributes rather than overall body weight.

Yes, thick can describe body parts, often focusing on them being substantial or sturdy.

While commonly associated with overweight, fat can also refer to the natural substance in bodies or richness in food.

Yes, thick can refer to the dense or viscous texture of substances.

Referring to a person as fat can be perceived as derogatory or offensive.

Yes, fat can describe something rich or lucrative, like a fat bonus.

Thick can have a negative meaning in certain contexts, like a thick accent making understanding difficult.

Yes, fat can be used metaphorically to describe something abundant or rich.

Yes, fat is used in cooking, referring to the natural oily substance from animals.