thorough

English Online Dictionary. What means thorough‎? What does thorough mean?

English

Alternative forms

• thoro (informal)

Etymology

From Middle English thoruȝ, þoruȝ, from Old English þuruh, a byform of Old English þurh, whence comes English through. The adjective derives from the preposition and adverb. The word developed a syllabic form in cases where the word was fully stressed: when it was used as an adverb, adjective, or noun, and less commonly when used as a preposition.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈθʌɹə/, /ˈθʌɹəʊ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈθʌɹoʊ/
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈθɝoʊ/
• Rhymes: -ʌɹə, -ʌɹəʊ

Adjective

thorough (comparative thorougher or more thorough, superlative thoroughest or most thorough)

1. Painstaking and careful not to miss or omit any detail.

2. Utter; complete; absolute.

Synonyms

• (detailed): comprehensive, rigorous, scrupulous; see also Thesaurus:meticulous or Thesaurus:comprehensive
• (utter; complete; absolute): downright, outright, unmitigated; see also Thesaurus:total

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “not detailed”): cursory, superficial, surface-level

Derived terms

Translations

Preposition

thorough

1. (archaic) Through. [9th–19th c.]

Noun

thorough (plural thoroughs)

1. (UK, dialect) A furrow between two ridges, to drain off the surface water.