1. very well or satisfactory: in a good, acceptable, or comfortable condition
(
informal
)
Everything's fine, thank you.
2. not coarse: made up of tiny particles fine sand
3. sunny: with sunny and clear skies a fine morning
4. thin: very thin, sharp, or delicate fine features fine hair
5. good-looking: very good to look at a fine view of the valley
6. outstanding: far better than the average a fine wine
7. delicately formed: showing special skill, detail, or intricacy, especially in artistic work fine detail
8. small and delicate: set very closely and carefully together fine stitching
9. unpleasant: extremely unsuitable or undesirable
(
informal
)
(
used ironically
)
This is a fine mess!
10. very subtle: so particular or small that it may hardly be noticeable a maze of fine legal detail a fine distinction
11. spuriously impressive: sounding or looking good, but probably just for show
(
used ironically
)
nothing but fine gestures
12. extremely pure: with any or most impurities removed, especially in a precious metal
adverb
Definition:
1. well: very well
(
informal
)
It works just fine. The patient is doing fine.
2. into small pieces: into tiny or delicate bits Chop the onions very fine.
verb (past and past participlefined, present participlefin·ing, 3rd person present singularfines)
Definition:
1. transitive verb sharpen something: to make something thinner or sharper
(
technical
)
2. transitive and intransitive verb purify: to purify beer or wine, or be purified
[13th century. < French fin< Latin finire "to finish" (see finish)]
fine·ness noun
Word History
The Latin word finire "to finish" from which fine is derived and the related nouns finis are also sources of English affinity, confine, define, final, finance, finesse, finish, finite, paraffin, and refine.
