Thick vs. Curvy — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 15, 2024
"Thick" refers to a fuller, solid body shape often emphasizing muscularity or robustness, while "curvy" highlights an hourglass figure with distinct, rounded hips and bust.
Difference Between Thick and Curvy
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Thick" describes a body type that is solid, fuller, and often muscular. This term focuses on the overall robustness of the body, including broader shoulders, fuller thighs, and a sturdy build. It conveys an image of strength and physical presence. "Curvy," on the other hand, emphasizes a body shape with pronounced curves, particularly around the hips and bust. This term is often associated with an hourglass figure, where the waist is notably smaller in comparison to the bust and hips. It highlights the smooth, flowing contours of the body.
While "thick" celebrates a fuller and more robust figure, often including muscle and overall body mass, "curvy" focuses on the proportionality and distinct curves, particularly the waist-to-hip ratio. Both terms celebrate body positivity but from different perspectives.
In fashion and media, "thick" might be used to describe models with a fuller figure who also exhibit muscular definition, while "curvy" is frequently used to refer to models with a classic hourglass shape. Both terms can overlap but carry different connotations and focal points.
"Thick" often implies a healthy, robust, and strong physique, whereas "curvy" suggests a balanced, feminine silhouette with notable curves. Both terms are positive descriptors that challenge traditional body standards by celebrating diversity in body shapes.
Comparison Chart
Focus
Fuller, robust, often muscular body
Hourglass figure with pronounced hips and bust
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Emphasis
Overall body mass and solidity
Waist-to-hip ratio and distinct curves
Common Contexts
Fitness, strength, and body positivity
Fashion, beauty, and body positivity
Body Shape
Broad shoulders, fuller thighs, sturdy build
Smaller waist with larger hips and bust
Visual Representation
Fuller and solid throughout the body
Smooth, flowing contours with balanced proportions
Compare with Definitions
Thick
Having a fuller, robust build.
She has a thick, athletic physique that is strong and muscular.
Curvy
Emphasizing smooth, flowing body contours.
She is known for her curvy figure, which fits the classic hourglass shape.
Thick
Solid and substantial in body form.
The model is celebrated for her thick, powerful legs and broad shoulders.
Curvy
Highlighting a smaller waist in proportion to hips and bust.
The actress's curvy shape is often featured in fashion magazines.
Thick
Emphasizing a healthy and strong appearance.
Many people admire her thick and fit body.
Curvy
Reflecting an idealized feminine silhouette.
The artist's sculptures often depict curvy forms.
Thick
With opposite sides or surfaces that are far or relatively far apart
The walls are 5 feet thick
Thick slices of bread
Thick metal cables
Curvy
A line that deviates from straightness in a smooth, continuous fashion.
Thick
Made up of a large number of things or people close together
The road winds through thick forest
His hair was long and thick
Curvy
A surface that deviates from planarity in a smooth, continuous fashion.
Thick
(of a liquid or a semi-liquid substance) relatively firm in consistency; not flowing freely
Thick mud
Curvy
Something characterized by such a line or surface, especially a rounded line or contour of the human body.
Thick
Of low intelligence; stupid
He's a bit thick
Curvy
A relatively smooth bend in a road or other course.
Thick
(of a voice) not clear or distinct; hoarse or husky
Guy's voice was thick with desire
A snarling thick voice
Curvy
A line representing data on a graph.
Thick
Having a very close, friendly relationship
He's very thick with the new master
Curvy
A trend derived from or as if from such a graph
"Once again, the politicians are behind the curve" (Ted Kennedy).
Thick
The most active or crowded part of something
We were in the thick of the battle
Curvy
A graphic representation showing the relative performance of individuals as measured against each other, used especially as a method of grading students in which the assignment of grades is based on predetermined proportions of students.
Thick
In or with deep, dense, or heavy mass
Bread spread thick with butter
Curvy
The graph of a function on a coordinate plane.
Thick
Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite, usually in the smallest solid dimension; not thin
A thick board.
Curvy
The intersection of two surfaces in three dimensions.
Thick
Measuring a specified number of units in this dimension
Two inches thick.
Curvy
The graph of the solutions to any equation of two variables.
Thick
Heavy in form, build, or stature; thickset
A thick neck.
Curvy
(Baseball) A curve ball.
Thick
Having component parts in a close, crowded state or arrangement; dense
A thick forest.
Curvy
(Slang) Something that is unexpected or designed to trick or deceive.
Thick
Having or suggesting a heavy or viscous consistency
Thick tomato sauce.
Curvy
To move in or take the shape of a curve
The path curves around the lake.
Thick
Having a great number; abounding
A room thick with flies.
Curvy
To cause to curve.
Thick
Impenetrable by the eyes
A thick fog.
Curvy
(Baseball) To pitch (a ball) with a curve.
Thick
Hard to hear or understand, as from being husky or slurred
Thick speech.
Curvy
To grade (students, for example) on a curve.
Thick
Very noticeable; pronounced
Has a thick accent.
Curvy
Having curves.
Thick
(Informal) Lacking mental agility; stupid.
Curvy
Or curvaceous.
Thick
(Informal) Very friendly; intimate
Thick friends.
Curvy
Having curves;
A settee with only one curvy end
Thick
(Informal) Going beyond what is tolerable; excessive.
Curvy
Having an hourglass figure with pronounced hips and bust.
The dress accentuates her curvy silhouette perfectly.
Thick
In a thick manner; deeply or heavily
Seashells lay thick on the beach.
Curvy
Celebrating balanced and rounded body proportions.
Her curvy body is admired for its natural, feminine lines.
Thick
In a close, compact state or arrangement; densely
Dozens of braids hung thick from the back of her head.
Thick
So as to be thick; thickly
Slice the bread thick for the best French toast.
Thick
The thickest part.
Thick
The most active or intense part
In the thick of the fighting.
Thick
Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite in its smallest solid dimension.
Thick
Measuring a certain number of units in this dimension.
I want some planks that are two inches thick.
Thick
Heavy in build; thickset.
He had such a thick neck that he had to turn his body to look to the side.
Thick
Densely crowded or packed.
We walked through thick undergrowth.
Thick
Having a viscous consistency.
My mum’s gravy was thick but at least it moved about.
Thick
Abounding in number.
The room was thick with reporters.
Thick
Impenetrable to sight.
We drove through thick fog.
Thick
(Of an accent) Prominent, strong.
Thick
Greatly evocative of one's nationality or place of origin.
He answered me in his characteristically thick Creole patois.
Thick
Difficult to understand, or poorly articulated.
We had difficulty understanding him with his thick accent.
Thick
(informal) Stupid.
He was as thick as two short planks.
Thick
(informal) Friendly or intimate.
They were as thick as thieves.
Thick
Deep, intense, or profound.
Thick darkness.
Thick
(academic) Detailed and expansive; substantive.
Thick
Troublesome; unreasonable
Thick
Curvy and voluptuous, and especially having large hips.
Thick
In a thick manner.
Snow lay thick on the ground.
Thick
Frequently or numerously.
The arrows flew thick and fast around us.
Thick
The thickest, or most active or intense, part of something.
It was mayhem in the thick of battle.
Thick
A thicket.
Thick
(slang) A stupid person; a fool.
Thick
To thicken.
Thick
Measuring in the third dimension other than length and breadth, or in general dimension other than length; - said of a solid body; as, a timber seven inches thick.
Were it as thick as is a branched oak.
My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
Thick
Having more depth or extent from one surface to its opposite than usual; not thin or slender; as, a thick plank; thick cloth; thick paper; thick neck.
Thick
Dense; not thin; inspissated; as, thick vapors. Also used figuratively; as, thick darkness.
Make the gruel thick and slab.
Thick
Not transparent or clear; hence, turbid, muddy, or misty; as, the water of a river is apt to be thick after a rain.
Thick
Abundant, close, or crowded in space; closely set; following in quick succession; frequently recurring.
The people were gathered thick together.
Black was the forest; thick with beech it stood.
Thick
Not having due distinction of syllables, or good articulation; indistinct; as, a thick utterance.
Thick
Deep; profound; as, thick sleep.
Thick
Dull; not quick; as, thick of fearing.
His dimensions to any thick sight were invincible.
Thick
Intimate; very friendly; familiar.
We have been thick ever since.
Thick
The thickest part, or the time when anything is thickest.
In the thick of the dust and smoke.
Thick
A thicket; as, gloomy thicks.
Through the thick they heard one rudely rush.
He through a little window cast his sightThrough thick of bars, that gave a scanty light.
Through thick and thin she followed him.
He became the panegyrist, through thick and thin, of a military frenzy.
Thick
Frequently; fast; quick.
Thick
Closely; as, a plat of ground thick sown.
Thick
To a great depth, or to a greater depth than usual; as, land covered thick with manure.
Thick
To thicken.
The nightmare Life-in-death was she,Who thicks man's blood with cold.
Thick
The location of something surrounded by other things;
In the midst of the crowd
Thick
Not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions;
An inch thick
A thick board
A thick sandwich
Spread a thick layer of butter
Thick coating of dust
Thick warm blankets
Thick
Closely crowded together;
A compact shopping center
A dense population
Thick crowds
Thick
Relatively dense in consistency;
Thick cream
Thick soup
Thick smoke
Thick fog
Thick
Spoken as if with a thick tongue;
The thick speech of a drunkard
His words were slurred
Thick
Wide from side to side;
A heavy black mark
Thick
Hard to pass through because of dense growth;
Dense vegetation
Thick woods
Thick
(of darkness) very intense;
Thick night
Thick darkness
A face in deep shadow
Deep night
Thick
Abundant;
A thick head of hair
Thick
Heavy and compact in form or stature;
A wrestler of compact build
He was tall and heavyset
Stocky legs
A thick middle-aged man
A thickset young man
Thick
(used informally) associated on close terms;
A close friend
The bartender was chummy with the regular customers
The two were thick as thieves for months
Thick
Used informally
Thick
Abundantly covered or filled;
The top was thick with dust
Thick
With a thick consistency;
The blood was flowing thick
Thick
In quick succession;
Misfortunes come fast and thick
Thick
Describing a well-built body with overall fullness.
His thick arms and chest show his dedication to weightlifting.
Thick
Reflecting overall mass and sturdiness.
The thick build of the athlete is an asset in her sport.
Common Curiosities
What does "thick" mean in terms of body shape?
"Thick" refers to a fuller, solid, and often muscular body shape.
Is "thick" used more in fitness contexts?
Yes, "thick" often highlights a robust, muscular physique and is common in fitness contexts.
Are "thick" and "curvy" positive terms?
Yes, both terms are positive and celebrate body diversity and positivity.
How do media portray "curvy" figures?
Media often portrays "curvy" figures as the epitome of femininity, emphasizing smooth, balanced curves.
Is "thick" associated with strength?
Yes, "thick" often conveys a sense of physical strength and robustness.
Is "curvy" associated with femininity?
Yes, "curvy" is strongly associated with feminine body ideals.
How is "curvy" defined in terms of body figure?
"Curvy" describes a body with pronounced curves, typically an hourglass figure with a smaller waist and larger hips and bust.
Is "curvy" more related to fashion and beauty?
Yes, "curvy" is frequently used in fashion and beauty to describe an idealized feminine figure.
Can men be described as "curvy"?
Typically, "curvy" is used to describe female body shapes, while "thick" can apply to both genders.
How do media portray "thick" figures?
Media often portrays "thick" figures as strong and fit, emphasizing overall body mass.
Can fashion models be both thick and curvy?
Yes, fashion models can exhibit traits of both, showcasing fullness and curves.
Does "curvy" focus on specific body parts?
Yes, "curvy" focuses on the waist-to-hip ratio and highlights the bust and hips.
Can a person be both thick and curvy?
Yes, a person can have attributes of both, combining a fuller build with distinct curves.
How do societal perceptions of "thick" and "curvy" differ?
"Thick" often emphasizes strength and robustness, while "curvy" emphasizes femininity and balanced proportions. Both terms celebrate different aspects of body positivity.
Does "thick" imply being overweight?
Not necessarily; "thick" emphasizes robustness and can include muscular builds, not just body fat.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
