serré
tight
Cela décrit quelque chose qui est très proche ou qui n'a pas beaucoup d'espace entre les parties.
Definition & meaning
Serré generally means tight, closely packed, or compressed. Its meaning depends on context:
- Tight-fitting or fastened firmly: a tight garment or a firm knot.
- Closely spaced or crowded: people, objects, or writing packed close together.
- Close or competitive: a close contest or a narrow result.
- Strict or limited: a tight schedule or budget.
- Strong or concentrated: especially when describing coffee.
Grammar & Word origin
Serré is an adjective and the past participle of serrer , meaning “to tighten,” “to squeeze,” or “to press together.”
It agrees with the noun it describes: serré (masculine singular), serrée (feminine singular), serrés (masculine plural), and serrées (feminine plural).
The verb comes from Latin serare, meaning “to close” or “to bolt.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms vary by context:
- étroit — “narrow” or “tight,” especially for a confined space or garment.
- compact — “compact,” emphasizing dense arrangement.
- tendu — “tight” or “tense,” emphasizing tension rather than closeness.
Antonyms also depend on context:
- lâche — “loose,” especially for clothing, knots, or fastenings.
- ample — “loose-fitting” or “roomy,” especially for clothing.
- espacé — “spaced apart,” the opposite of closely packed.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Le gant est trop serré pour mes mains.adjective
The glove is too tight for my hands.
Ce pantalon semble serré à la taille.adjective
These pants seem tight at the waist.
Elle évite les vêtements serrés en été.adjective
She avoids tight clothes in summer.
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