FINE!!!

fine ¹ (fn)

adj. fin·er, fin·est

1. Of superior quality, skill, or appearance: a fine day; a fine writer.

2. Very small in size, weight, or thickness: fine type; fine paper.

3.

a. Free from impurities.

b. Metallurgy Containing pure metal in a specified proportion or amount: gold 21 carats fine.

4. Very sharp; keen: a blade with a fine edge.

5. Thin; slender: fine hairs.

6. Exhibiting careful and delicate artistry: fine china. See Synonyms at delicate.

7. Consisting of very small particles; not coarse: fine dust.

8.

a. Subtle or precise: a fine difference.

b. Able to make or detect effects of great subtlety or precision; sensitive: has a fine eye for color.

9. Trained to the highest degree of physical efficiency: a fine racehorse.

10. Characterized by refinement or elegance.

11. Satisfactory; acceptable: Handing in your paper on Monday is fine.

12. Being in a state of satisfactory health; quite well: I'm fine. And you?

13. Used as an intensive: a fine mess.

adv.

1. Finely.

2. Informal Very well: doing fine.

tr. & intr.v. fined, fin·ing, fines

To make or become finer, purer, or cleaner.

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[Middle English fin, from Old French, from Latin fnis, end, supreme degree.]

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fineness n.

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fine 2 (fn) n. 1. A sum of money required to be paid as a penalty for an offense. 2. Law a. A forfeiture or penalty to be paid to the offended party in a civil action. b. An amicable settlement of a suit over land ownership. 3. Obsolete An end; a termination. tr.v. fined, fin·ing, fines To require the payment of a fine from; impose a fine on. Idiom: in fine 1. In conclusion; finally. 2. In summation; in brief. [Middle English fin, from Old French, settlement, compensation, from Medieval Latin fnis, from Latin, end.] fina·ble, finea·ble adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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fine ¹

Adjective

1. very good

2. superior in skill: a fine doctor

3. (of weather) clear and dry

4. Informal quite well: I felt fine

5. satisfactory: as far as we can tell, everything is fine

6. of delicate or careful workmanship: fine porcelain

7. subtle: too fine a distinction

8. very thin or slender: fine soft hair

9. very small: fine print

10. (of edges or blades) sharp

11. fancy, showy, or smart

12. good-looking

13. Ironic disappointing or terrible: a fine mess!

Adverb

Informal very well: that's what we've always done, and it suits us just fine

Verb

[fining, fined]

1. to make (something) finer or thinner

2. fine down to make (a theory or criticism) more precise or exact [Latin finis end, boundary, as in finis honorum the highest degree of honour]

finely adv

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fine ²

Noun

a payment imposed as a penalty

Verb

[fining, fined]

to impose a fine on [Old French fin]