thickenings

Gradual viscosity increases

Thickenings are substances added to liquids to make them denser or more viscous.

In cooking, flour, cornstarch, and roux are common thickenings for sauces and gravies: The recipe calls for various thickenings depending on the desired consistency.

The word also refers to areas where something has grown thicker: thickenings in the arterial walls.

medical

plaques

Commemorative mounted inscriptions

lesionsAreas of damaged tissue
fibrosisPathological connective tissue buildup
scarringPermanent mark formation

arteries · vessels · skin · calluses · adhesions · nodules · tissue · membranes · walls · stenosis

culinary

roux

Cooked fat-flour paste

gravyThickened meat drippings
sauceLiquid food accompaniment
cornstarchMaize-derived thickening powder

slurry · flour · custard · pudding · broth · stew · reduction · gelatin · arrowroot · bechamel

botanical

bark

Sharp canine vocalization

stemsPlant's main axes
cell wallsRigid outer layer of plant, fungal, and bacterial units
lignificationHardening into woody tissue

cambium · xylem · cuticle · roots · trunks · woody · corky · epidermis · vascular · phloem

industrial

coatings

Applied surface layers

adhesivesBonding substances
paintsColored surface liquids
polymersLarge chain-like molecules

resins · gels · lubricants · slurries · emulsions · suspensions · latex · sealants · inks · concrete

Opposites

consistency/viscosity

thickeningsthinnings

Removed excess growth

dilutions · waterings · liquefactions · rarefactions · weakenings

size/dimension

thickeningsthinnings

Removed excess growth

narrowings · taperings · contractions · reductions · shrinkages

medical/anatomical pathology

thickeningsthinnings

Removed excess growth

atrophies · erosions · depletions · degenerations

Phrases

thickening agentSubstance increasing liquid viscosity

Family

thickening

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G