fine1

 
Pronunciation: /fʌɪn/

adjective

  • 1of very high quality; very good of its kind: this was a fine piece of film-making fine wines
  • worthy of or eliciting admiration: what a fine human being he is a fine musician
  • 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
  • imposing or impressive in appearance: Donleavy was a fine figure of a man
  • (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
  • 2very thin or narrow: a fine nylon thread fine flyaway hair
  • (of a point) sharp: I sharpened the leads to a fine point
  • made or consisting of small particles: the soils were all fine silt
  • of delicate or intricate workmanship or structure: fine bone china
  • (of something abstract) subtle and therefore perceived only with difficulty and care: there is a fine distinction between misrepresenting the truth and lying
  • (of a physical faculty) sensitive and discriminating: he has a fine eye for the detail and texture of social scenery
  • 3 Cricket directed or stationed behind the wicket and close to the line of flight of the ball when it is bowled.

noun

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

adverb

  • 1 informal in a satisfactory or pleasing manner; very well: ‘And how’s the job-hunting going?’ ‘Oh, fine.’ mother and baby are both doing fine
  • 2 Cricket behind the wicket and close to the line of flight of the ball when it is bowled.

verb

  • 1 [with object] clarify (beer or wine) by causing the precipitation of sediment during production.
  • [no object] (of liquid) become clear.
  • 2make or become thinner: [no object]: she’d certainly fined down—her face was thinner
  • 3 [no object] (fine up) Northern English & Australian/NZ informal (of the weather) become bright and clear.

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 someone fine

suit or be enough for someone.

fine feathers make fine birds

proverb beautiful or expensive clothes may make the wearer seem more impressive than is really the case.

a fine line

a subtle distinction between two concepts or situations: there’s a fine line between humour and inappropriateness the president has been treading a fine line on immigration

the finer points of

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

——'s finest

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

one's finer feelings

one’s feelings of honour, loyalty, or duty; one’s conscience or sense of morality.

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: one fine day he decided to take an apartment in Rome

Derivatives

finely

adverb

fineness

noun

Origin:

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