Having great or unusual consistency of elements or closeness of parts; closely compacted or conglomerated; compact; close; thick: as, a dense body; a dense cloud or fog; a dense panicle of flowers.In zoology, closely set; separated by very small intervals: as. dense punctures, hairs, etc.In photography, more or less opaque; strong in the contrast of lights and shades: said of a negative exhibiting these characteristics, and capable of giving a brilliant print, or even, if it be too dense, a harsh one, as distinguished from a weak or thin negative, the picture on which presents small contrasts, while its film is inclined to be more or less transparent, even in the lights, and the resulting print is flat. Also expressed by strong and intense.Figuratively, without break or interruption; difficult to penetrate; solid and heavy: as, dense ignorance; dense wit; dense stupidity.Thick-headed; obtuse; stolid; stupid; dull.Synonyms Condensed, compressed.n. A thicket.In optics, having a large index of refraction; capable of transmitting light at a less velocity than the velocity of light-waves in vacuo.