茂

Core sense is organic abundance and vitality.

• Physical: Lush, luxuriant, or overgrown; specifically applied to foliage, forests, or hair.
• Metaphorical: Talented, accomplished, or proficient (a "richness" of skill).

• Stative Verb / Adjective: Describes the state of being lush or talented.
• Modifier: Functions as an attributive adjective for nouns.
• Verbal Sense: In some early contexts, may function as a verb meaning "to grow luxuriantly."

• vs. 密 (mì): While both relate to density, 茂 emphasizes vitality and health ("lush"), whereas 密 refers to spatial proximity or the absence of gaps ("crowded").
• vs. 盛 (shèng): Both denote flourishing, but 盛 typically refers to peak power, volume, or grandeur; 茂 remains rooted in organic, sprawling growth.

The glyph carries a neutral to positive connotation of abundance. It is generally not used to describe density that is suffocating or obstructive. If the context implies a "thicket" as a blockage, consider an alternative glyph.