fine1
/
fʌɪn/
adj.
- of very high quality.
▸satisfactory.
▸healthy and feeling well.
▸(of the weather) bright and clear.
▸(of speech or writing) sounding impressive but ultimately insincere:
fine words.
▸(of gold or silver) containing a specified high proportion of pure metal.
- very thin:
fine hair.
▸consisting of small particles.
▸of delicate or intricate workmanship.
▸subtle and therefore perceptible with difficulty:
a fine distinction.
▸(of a faculty) sensitive and discriminating.
- Cricket behind the wicket and close to the line of flight of the bowling.
n.
(
fines)
very small particles found in mining or milling.
adv.
- informal in a satisfactory or pleasing manner.
- Cricket to a fine position.
v.
- clarify (beer or wine) by causing the precipitation of sediment.
-
(usu. fine something down or fine down)
make or become thinner.
-
(fine up)
N. English & Austral./NZ informal (of the weather) become bright and clear.
Phrase
- cut it
(or things)
fine
allow a very small margin of time. - one's finer feelings
one's conscience or sense of morality. - one's finest hour
the time of one's greatest success. - not to put too fine a point on it
speak bluntly.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. fin, based on L. finire (see finish).
fine2
/
fʌɪn/
n.
a sum of money exacted as a penalty by a court of law or other authority.
v.
punish by a fine.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. fin ‘end, payment’, from L. finis ‘end’ (in med. L. denoting a sum paid on settling a lawsuit).
fine4
/
ˈfiːneɪ/
n.
Music the place where a piece of music finishes (when at the end of a repeated section rather than at the end of the score).
Etymology
Ital., from L. finis ‘end’.