—adj.
1 closely held, drawn, fastened, fitting, etc. (a tight hold; a tight skirt).
2 closely and firmly put together (a tight joint).
3 (of clothes etc.) too closely fitting (my shoes are rather tight).
4 impermeable, impervious, esp. (in comb.) to a specified thing (watertight).
5 tense; stretched so as to leave no slack (a tight bowstring).
6 colloq. drunk.
7 colloq. (of a person) mean, stingy.
8 a (of money or materials) not easily obtainable. b (of a money market) in which money is tight.
9 a (of precautions, a programme, etc.) stringent, demanding. b presenting difficulties (a tight situation).
10 produced by or requiring great exertion or pressure (a tight squeeze).
11 (of control etc.) strictly imposed.
—adv. tightly (hold tight!).
Phrases and idioms:
tight corner (or place or spot) a difficult situation. tight-fisted stingy. tight-fitting (of a garment) fitting (often too) close to the body. tight-lipped with or as with the lips compressed to restrain emotion or speech.
Derivatives:
tightly adv. tightness n.
Etymology: prob. alt. of thight f. ON theacutettr watertight, of close texture
Useful english dictionary. 2012.