עבי, עָבָה (b. h.; cmp. עָבַב) to be thick, dense, dark.
Nif. - נֶעֱבֶה to become thick, swell. Tanḥ. Vaëra 3 ובלען … ולא נ׳ יותר וכ׳ Aaron’s staff swallowed them up and yet was not thicker than before.
Hif. - הֶעֱבָה same. Tosef. Kil. III, 4 הֶעֱבוּ ונעשו מכוונות (not העבן) if the plants on growing denser appeared to form a straight line; Y. ib. V, beg. 29ᵈ העבות (R. S. to Kil. V, 1 היו עבים; corr. acc.).
Pi. - עִיבָּה to make thick; to condense, darken; to facilitate growth. Y. Taan. III, 66ᶜ מְעַבֶּה, v. עָב II. M. Kat. II, 5 מְחַפִּין … אף מְעַבִּין (during the festive week) you may cover up the cut figs with straw; … you may even &c.; expl. ib. 13ᵇ מחפין אקלושי מעבין אסמוכי by m’ḥappin is meant a loose covering, by m’ʿabbin a dense, packed covering; (anoth. opin.) מחפין … מע׳ … כמין כרי m’ḥappin means a loose or a dense covering, m’ʿabbin means bringing the figs close together so as to form a pile. Y. Peah III, 17ᶜ בשעי׳ על מנת להדל if he set the plants close together with the intention of thinning them afterwards. Ib. VII, 20ᵇ מתוך שהוא מְעַבָּן וכ׳ because he strengthens the remaining plants (by thinning the field), they produce more fruit the next year (and thus he benefits also the poor). Y. Shebi. I, beg. 33ᵃ מעבה את הכורת he advances the growth of the ramification, opp. מתיש כוחה. Y. Bets. IV, 62ᶜ top בשלא נתכוין לעַבֹּותָהּ when (in putting wood on the booth) he had not had the intention to cover it more densely; a. e.—Tosef. Peah IV, 14 המעבה את שוקיו (ed. Zuck. המקפח) he who contracts his shoulders (simulating a hump), v. קָפַח.—Part. pass. מְעוּבֶּה, q. v.