Thorough Meaning
/ˈθʌɹə/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjPainstaking and careful not to miss or omit any detail.
adjUtter; complete; absolute.
Sentence Examples
The theory is based on thorough research.
The hypothesis is based on the thorough experiments.
A thorough knowledge of the subject
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The detective conducted a very ____ investigation, checking every single piece of evidence available.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police conducted a ____ search of the entire building to find any evidence that might lead them to the suspect today.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Dr. Oldfield once said to me, 'You talk to me quite all right, but why is it that you never open your lips at a committee meeting? You are a drone.' I appreciated the banter. The bees are ever busy, the drone is a thorough idler."
— 1925–29, Mahatma Gandhi, “Shyness My Shield” (chapter XVIII), in Mahadev Desai, transl., The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Part I (Autobiography), Ahemadabad: Navajivan Mudranalaya, →ISBN:
"Ye might haue ſeene the frothy billowes fry
Vnder the ſhip, as thorough them ſhe went […]"
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
"You are contented to be led in triumph
Thorough the streets of Rome?"
— 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], line 109:
"At length did cross an Albatross: / Thorough the fog it came; […]"
— 1797–1798 (date written; revised 1817), S[amuel] T[aylor] Coleridge, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. In Seven Parts.”, in Sibylline Leaves: A Collection of Poems, London: Rest Fenner, […], published 1817, →OCLC, page 6:
"The Ignorance and Idleness of the Plowman, who either goes so shallow, or plows his Thoroughs so wide, or misses Part of the Ground."
— 1733, William Ellis, Chiltern And Vale Farming Explained:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The detective conducted a very ____ investigation, checking every single piece of evidence available.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police conducted a ____ search of the entire building to find any evidence that might lead them to the suspect today.