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fine1

Syllabification: (fine)
Pronunciation: /fīn/

Translate fine | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of fine

adjective

  • 1of high quality:this was a fine piece of filmmaking fine wines
  • (of a person) worthy of or eliciting admiration:what a fine human being he is
  • good; satisfactory:relations in the group were fine
  • used to express one’s agreement with or acquiescence to something:anything you want is fine by me, Linda he said such a solution would be fine
  • in good health and feeling well:“I’m fine, just fine. And you?”
  • (of the weather) bright and clear:it was another fine winter day
  • of imposing and dignified appearance or size:a very fine Elizabethan mansion
  • (of speech or writing) sounding impressive and grand but ultimately insincere:fine words seemed to produce few practical benefits
  • denoting or displaying a state of good, though not excellent, preservation in stamps, books, coins, etc..
  • (of gold or silver) containing a specified high proportion of pure metal:the coin is struck in .986 fine gold
  • 2(of a thread, filament, or person’s hair) thin:I have always had fine and dry hair
  • (of a point) sharp:I sharpened the leads to a fine point
  • consisting of small particles:the soils were all fine silt
  • having or requiring an intricate delicacy of touch:exquisitely fine work
  • (of something abstract) subtle and therefore perceived only with difficulty and care:the fine distinctions between the new and old definitions of refugee
  • (of feelings) refined; elevated:you might appeal to their finer feelings

noun

(fines)
  • very small particles found in mining, milling, etc..

adverb

informal
  • in a satisfactory or pleasing manner; very well:“And how’s the job-hunting going?” “Oh, fine.”

verb

  • 1 [with object] clarify (beer or wine) by causing the precipitation of sediment during production.
  • [no object] (of liquid) become clear:the ale hadn’t had quite time to fine down
  • 2make or become thinner: [with object]:it can be fined right down to the finished shape [no object]:she’d certainly fined down—her face was thinner

Phrases

cut it (or things) fine

allow a very small margin of something, especially time:boys who have cut it rather fine are scuttling into chapel

do fine

be entirely satisfactory:an omelet will do fine
be healthy or well:the baby’s doing fine
do something in a satisfactory manner:he was doing fine acquiring all the necessary disciplines in finance

do someone fine

suit or be enough for someone.

fine feathers make fine birds

proverb beautiful clothes or an eye-catching appearance make a person appear similarly beautiful or impressive.

the finer points of

the more complex or detailed aspects of:he went on to discuss the finer points of his work

——'s finest

informal the police of a particular city:Moscow’s finest

one's finest hour

the time of one’s greatest success.

fine words butter no parsnips

proverb nothing is achieved by empty promises or flattery.

not to put too fine a point on it

to speak bluntly:not to put too fine a point on it, your Emily is a liar
[figuratively, with reference to the sharpening of a weapon, tool, etc.]

one fine day

at some unspecified or unknown time:you want to be the Chancellor one fine day

Derivatives

finely

adverb

fineness

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French fin, based on Latin finire 'to finish'(see finish)

fine in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of fine in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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