denser; densest
1
a
: marked by compactness or crowding together of parts
dense vegetation
dense traffic
b
chemistry
: having a high mass (see mass entry 2 sense 1c) per unit volume (see volume entry 1 sense 2)
Carbon dioxide is a dense gas.
The cake was overly sweet and dense.
2
a
: slow to understand : stupid, thickheaded
was too dense to get the joke
b
: extreme
dense ignorance
3
mathematics
: having between any two elements at least one element
The set of rational numbers is dense.
4
: demanding concentration to follow or comprehend
dense prose
5
: having high or relatively high opacity (see opacity sense 2)
a dense fog
a dense photographic negative
densely
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of dense in a Sentence
They cut a path through the dense jungle.
a dense tangle of wires
a dense cluster of stars
That part of the city has a dense population of immigrants.
A dense mass of spectators filled the courtroom.
In the movie, she plays his kind but somewhat dense aunt.
Recent Examples on the Web
Using the 16-Inch MacBook Pro: The Most Specialized MacBook
Primarily a desktop replacement or workstation, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is surprisingly dense if you’re otherwise used to tossing around a lithe MacBook Air.
—
PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Reading this dense yet miraculously seductive book becomes an experience like Hans Castorp’s interlude on the mountain.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
The corn and honey cake is similar to your favorite corn bread, dense, gritty and full of corn flavor drenched in honey.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
While the city aimed to build more dense, mixed-use development in these areas, Mahan thinks the city passed too many restrictions, inadvertently stifling development.
—Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dense 
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PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Reading this dense yet miraculously seductive book becomes an experience like Hans Castorp’s interlude on the mountain.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
The corn and honey cake is similar to your favorite corn bread, dense, gritty and full of corn flavor drenched in honey.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
While the city aimed to build more dense, mixed-use development in these areas, Mahan thinks the city passed too many restrictions, inadvertently stifling development.
—Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dense
Dictionary Entries Near dense
Cite this Entry
“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dense. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dense
adjective
denser; densest
1
a
: marked by closeness or crowding together of parts
a dense forest
b
: having a high mass per unit volume
lead is a very dense metal
2
: slow to understand : stupid sense 1a
3
: thick entry 1 sense 4
dense fog
4
: having between any two mathematical elements at least one element
the set of rational numbers is dense
densely
adverb
denseness
noun
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