The word "thickening" is spelled with the combination of the consonant cluster "th" pronounced as /θ/ followed by the vowel sound "ick" pronounced as /ɪk/ and ending with the nasal consonant sound "en" pronounced as /n/. The final syllable "ing" is pronounced with the nasal consonant sound "n" followed by the velar consonant sound "g" pronounced as /ŋ/. The word "thickening" refers to the process of making something thicker or denser.
Thickening, as a noun, refers to the process or action of making something thicker or more dense. It involves increasing the width or depth of an object or substance, resulting in a more substantial or condensed appearance or consistency.
In the context of cooking or food preparation, thickening is an essential technique used to increase the viscosity or thickness of a liquid or sauce. It often involves the addition of certain ingredients or techniques to create a more desirable texture. This can be achieved by using substances such as flour, cornstarch, or gelatin, which bind with the liquid to create a more cohesive and thicker consistency. Thickening helps to enhance the mouthfeel and appearance of various dishes, such as soups, stews, gravies, or custards.
Furthermore, thickening can also refer to the physical process of a material becoming denser or more condensed. This can occur due to various factors such as evaporation, cooling, or the introduction of other substances. For example, when a liquid simmers, the water content gradually diminishes, resulting in a thickened consistency. Additionally, some chemical reactions or physical processes may cause materials to thicken, such as the addition of a catalyst or a change in temperature.
Overall, thickening encompasses the act of increasing thickness, viscosity, or density through various means, be it in culinary applications, physical processes, or other contexts where a more substantial consistency is desired.
• the act of thickening
• Something put into a liquid or mass to make it more thick.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "thickening" originated from the verb "thicken", which can be traced back to the Middle English word "thiknen" and the Old English word "thicnian". The root of this word is thought to be "thick", which has ancient Germanic origins. In Old English, "thicce" meant "dense" or "wide", and it eventually evolved to "thick" in modern English. The addition of the suffix "-en" to "thick" forms the verb "thicken", which means to make something thicker or denser. From this verb, the noun form "thickening" emerged.