[tʌɪt], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- fixed, fastened, or closed firmly; hard to move, undo, or open
(e.g: she twisted her handkerchief into a tight knot)

- (of a rope, fabric, or surface) stretched so as to leave no slack; not loose
(e.g: the drawcord pulls tight)

- (of an area or space) having or allowing little room for manoeuvre
(e.g: a tight parking spot)

- (of a formation or group) closely or densely packed together
(e.g: he levered the bishop out from a tight knot of clerical wives)

- (of a game or contest) with evenly matched competitors; very close
(e.g: he won in a tight finish)

- not willing to spend or give much money; mean
(e.g: he is tight with his money)

- drunk
(e.g: he got tight on brandy)


Phrases:
- a tight spot
- run a tight ship

Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘healthy, vigorous’, later ‘firm, solid’): probably an alteration of thight ‘firm, solid’, later ‘close-packed, dense’, of Germanic origin; related to German dicht ‘dense, close’

[tʌɪt], (Adverb)

Definitions:
- very firmly, closely, or tensely
(e.g: he went downstairs, holding tight to the bannisters)


Phrases:
- a tight spot
- run a tight ship

Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘healthy, vigorous’, later ‘firm, solid’): probably an alteration of thight ‘firm, solid’, later ‘close-packed, dense’, of Germanic origin; related to German dicht ‘dense, close’