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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary fine
ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Anglo-French fin, fine, from Latin finis boundary, end DATE 13th century 1. obsolete : end , conclusion 2. a compromise of a fictitious suit used as a form of conveyance of lands 3. a. a sum imposed as punishment for an offense b. a forfeiture or penalty paid to an injured party in a civil action • • • - in fine
fine transitive verb (fined ; fin·ing) DATE 1559 : to impose a fine on : punish by a fine
fine adjective (fin·er ; fin·est) ETYMOLOGY Middle English fin, from Anglo-French, from Latin finis, noun, end, limit DATE 13th century 1. a. free from impurity b. of a metal : having a stated proportion of pure metal in the composition expressed in parts per thousand a gold coin .9166 fine 2. a. (1) very thin in gauge or texture fine thread (2) not coarse fine sand (3) very small fine print (4) keen a knife with a fine edge (5) very precise or accurate a fine adjustment trying to be too fine with his pitches b. physically trained or hardened close to the limit of efficiency — used of an athlete or animal 3. delicate, subtle, or sensitive in quality, perception, or discrimination a fine distinction 4. superior in kind, quality, or appearance : excellent a fine job a fine day fine wines 5. a. ornate 1 fine writing b. marked by or affecting elegance or refinement fine manners 6. a. very well feel fine b. all right that's fine with me 7. — used as an intensive the leader, in a fine frenzy, beheaded one of his wives — Brian Crozier
fine adverb DATE 14th century 1. finely : as a. very well b. all right 2. with a very narrow margin of time or space she had not intended to cut her escape so fine — Melinda Beck et al.
fine verb (fined ; fin·ing) DATE 14th century transitive verb 1. purify , clarify fine and filter wine 2. to make finer in quality or size intransitive verb 1. to become pure or clear the ale will fine 2. to become smaller in lines or proportions
ETYMOLOGY Italian, from Latin finis end DATE circa 1798 : end — used as a direction in music to mark the closing point after a repeatEnglish Etymology fine 1. fine (adj.) c.1300, from O.Fr . fin "perfected, of highest quality," from L. finis "end, limit" (see finish); hence "acme, peak, height," as in finis boni "the highest good." In Fr., the main meaning remains "delicate, intricately skillful;" in Eng. since c.1440 fine is also a general expression of admiration or approval, the equiv. of Fr. beau (cf. fine arts, 1767, translating Fr. beaux-arts). Finery"gaudy decoration" is first attested 1680. Fine print "qualifications and limitations of a deal" first recorded 1960. Fine-tune (v.) is 1969, a back-formation from fine-tuning (1924), originally in reference to radio receivers.http://O.Fr 2. fine (n.) c.1200, "termination," from O.Fr . fin "end," from M.L.finis "a payment in settlement, fine or tax," from L. finis "end" (see finish). Modern meaning is via sense of "sum of money paid for exemption from punishment or to compensate for injury" (c.1340, from the same sense in Anglo-Fr., 1292) and from phrases such as to make fine "make one's peace, settle a matter" (c.1300). Meaning "sum of money imposed as penalty for some offense" is first recorded 1529; the verb meaning "to punish by a fine" is from 1559.http://O.Fr Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ fine fine / fain / adjective(finer, fin·est) VERY GOOD 很好 1. [usually before noun] of high quality; good 高质量的；美好的: a very fine performance 十分精彩的演出 fine clothes / wines / workmanship 漂亮的衣服；美酒；精湛的工艺 a particularly fine example of Saxon architecture 撒克逊式建筑的优秀范例 Jim has made a fine job of the garden. 吉姆把花园拾掇得漂漂亮亮。 people who enjoy the finer things in life (= for example art, good food, etc.) 享受美好生活的人 He tried to appeal to their finer feelings (= feelings of duty, love, etc.). 他试图打动他们更美好的情感(即责任感、爱等)。 It was his finest hour (= most successful period) as manager of the England team. 那是他作为英格兰队经理的鼎盛时期。 VERY WELL 很不错 2. (of a person 人) in good health 健康的；身体很好的: 'How are you?' 'Fine, thanks.' "你好吗？" "很好,谢谢。" I was feeling fine when I got up this morning. 今天早上我起床时感觉很舒服。 ⇨ note at well ACCEPTABLE / GOOD ENOUGH 可接受；够好 3. (also used as an exclamation 亦作感叹词) used to tell sb that an action, a suggestion or a decision is acceptable (指行为、建议、决定)可接受: 'I'll leave this here, OK?' 'Fine.' "我把这个留在这儿,可以吗？" "可以。" 'Bob wants to know if he can come too.' ' That's fine by me.' "鲍勃想知道他是否也能来。" "我认为没问题。" 4. used to say you are satisfied with sth (表示满意)很好,不错,满意: Don't worry. Your speech was fine. 别担心。你的讲话挺好的。 You go on without me. I'll be fine. 没有我你继续吧。我没事的。 'Can I get you another drink?' 'No, thanks. I'm fine.' "我可以再给你取一杯吗？" "不,谢谢。我够了。" (ironic) This is a fine (= terrible) mess we're in! 我们的处境好狼狈啊！ (ironic) You're a fine one to talk ! (= you are not in a position to criticize, give advice, etc.) 哪有你说话的份！ ATTRACTIVE 有吸引力 5. [usually before noun] pleasing to look at 好看的；漂亮的: a fine view 美景 a fine-looking woman 漂亮女人 a fine figure of a man 身材俊美的男人 DELICATE 精致 6. [usually before noun] attractive and delicate 精巧的；精美的: fine bone china 精致的骨灰瓷 She has inherited her mother's fine features (= a small nose, mouth, etc.). 她遗传了她母亲的清秀面容。 WEATHER 天气 7. (especially BrE) bright and not raining 晴朗的: a fine day / evening 晴朗的一天/晚上 I hope it stays fine for the picnic. 我希望野餐那天还是晴天。 VERY THIN 纤细 8. very thin or narrow 纤细的；很细的: fine blond hair 纤细的金发 a fine thread 细线 a brush with a fine tip 笔头尖细的画笔 DETAIL / DISTINCTIONS 细节；差别 9. [usually before noun] difficult to see or describe 难以看出的；很难描述的 SYN subtle :
You really need a magnifying glass to appreciate all the fine detail. 确实需要放大镜才能欣赏到一切细微之处。 There's no need to make such fine distinctions. 没有必要区分出如此细微的差别。 There's a fine line between love and hate (= it is easy for one to become the other). 爱恨之间没有鸿沟。 WITH SMALL GRAINS 小颗粒 10. made of very small grains 小颗粒制成的；颗粒细微的: fine sand 细沙 Use a finer piece of sandpaper to finish. 用细砂纸最后磨光。 OPP coarse PERSON 人 11. [only before noun] that you have a lot of respect for 值得尊敬的；杰出的: He was a fine man. 他是个优秀的人。 WORDS / SPEECHES 词语；话语 12. sounding important and impressive but unlikely to have any effect 漂亮的；虚饰的；辞藻华丽的: His speech was full of fine words which meant nothing. 他的演讲华而不实。 METALS 金属 13. (technical 术语) containing only a particular metal and no other substances that reduce the quality 纯的；无杂质的: fine gold 纯金 IDIOMS ▪ get sth down to a fine 'art (informal) to learn to do sth well and efficiently 把…学到家；学得非常在行: I spend so much time travelling that I've got packing down to a fine art. 我常常旅行,这就把打点行李学到家了。 ▪ not to put too fine a 'point on it used to emphasize sth that is expressed clearly and directly, especially a criticism 直截了当地说,不客气地说(尤指批评): Not to put too fine a point on it, I think you are lying. 不客气地说,我认为你在撒谎。 ⇨ more at chance n., fettle , line n. adverb (informal) in a way that is acceptable or good enough 可接受；够好；蛮不错: Keep going like that—you're doing fine. 就这样做下去——你做得蛮不错嘛。 Things were going fine until you showed up. 你一露面就把事情搞糟了。 That arrangement suits me fine. 那种安排对我很合适。 (BrE) An omelette will do me fine (= will be enough for me). 一份摊鸡蛋我就够了。 ▪ cut it / things 'fine (informal) to leave yourself just enough time to do sth 把时间扣得很紧；时间上不留余地: If we don't leave till after lunch we'll be cutting it very fine. 我们要是午饭以后才走,时间就紧得很了。 noun a sum of money that must be paid as punishment for breaking a law or rule 罚金；罚款: a parking fine 违规停车罚款 Offenders will be liable to a heavy fine (= one that costs a lot of money). 违者须付巨额罚金。 She has already paid over $2 000 in fines. 她已经付了 2 000 多元罚金。 verb[often passive] ~ sb (sth) (for sth / for doing sth) to make sb pay money as an official punishment 处…以罚金: ▪ [VN] She was fined for speeding. 她因超速而被罚款。 ▪ [VNN] The company was fined £20 000 for breaching safety regulations. 这家公司因违反安全条例而被罚款 2 万英镑。 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English fine verb ADV. heavily Any company found to be breaking these rules will be heavily fined. PREP. for He got fined £200 for parking illegally. PHRASES get fined Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition n. Function: verb Synonyms: PENALIZE , amerce, mulct Related Words: distrain, exact, levy, tax; confiscate, sequestrate n. Function: noun a pecuniary penalty exacted by an authority FF1C;paid a fine of ten dollarsFF1E; Synonyms: amercement, forfeit, mulct, penalty Related Words: damages, reparation; punishment; assessment n. Function: adjective 1 marked by subtlety of perception or discrimination FF1C;I cannot follow these fine distinctionsFF1E; Synonyms: delicate, finespun, hairline, hairsplitting, nice, refined, subtle Related Words: abstruse, esoteric, recondite; cryptic, enigmatic, obscure; minute, petty, trifling Contrasted Words: definite, explicit, express, specific; clear, lucid, perspicuous; broad, extensive, general, generic, indefinite, wide 2 consisting of small particles FF1C;fine sandFF1E; Synonyms: impalpable, powdery, pulverized Related Words: light, loose, porous Antonyms: coarse 3 Synonyms: EXCELLENT , capital, ||dandy, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, superior, top, top-notch Related Words: beautiful, splendid; enjoyable, pleasant Idioms: fine and dandy Contrasted Words: miserable, wretched; atrocious, awful, objectionable, unpleasant 4 Synonyms: FAIR 2, clarion, clear, cloudless, pleasant, rainless, sunny, sunshiny, unclouded, undarkenedWebster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged Search result show the entry is found in: post-fine , or blood fine , or fine structure , or fine-structure constant , or fine-tune , or fine structural , or fine-grained , or cut fine , or draw it fine , or dry-fine , or in fine , or fine aggregate , or fine art , or fine-bore , or fine champagne , or fine chemical , or fine cut , or fine-draw , or fine-drawn , or fine frame , or fine-grain , or fine gravel , or fine harness, or fine herbs , or fine-leaved heath , or fine of lands , or fine print , or fine sand , or fine sight , or fine stuff , or fine-tooth comb , or fine-tooth-comb , or fine-top salt grass , or fine-wool , or foot of the finefine I. fine \ˈfīn\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English fin, fine, from Old French fin, from Latin finis boundary, limit, end — more at final 1. obsolete : end , conclusion , close 2. a. : a sum formerly paid as compensation or for exemption from punishment but now imposed as punishment for a crime — distinguished from forfeiture and penalty b. : a forfeiture or penalty paid to an injured party in a civil action c. : a sum of money ordered paid by one in contempt of court to vindicate the court's authority d. (1) : a sum paid to a library as a penalty for keeping a book beyond the date due (2) : the monetary penalty imposed for infraction of a rule or obligation < club members who were late had to pay a 25-cent fine > 3. a. feudal law (1) : a money payment made by a tenant to his lord on a particular occasion (as a transfer of the tenant right) (2) : an endowment whereby a tenant's widow was permitted to claim her dower b. (1) : a final amicable agreement or compromise of an actual or fictitious controversy or suit formerly made in England by leave of the king or his justices (2) : a settlement giving exemption or release; especially : one obtained by a payment of money c. or fine of lands : a compromise of a fictitious suit used as a form of conveyance of lands where ordinary conveyances were less efficacious (as in cases involving married women or entailed estates) d. English & early American law : an agreement effecting a conveyance of estates in land by entering into a friendly lawsuit whereby one party's claim of title was formally recognized by the other, putting an end to all litigation between them e. English law : a sum of money charged for any benefit, favor, or privilege (as obtaining or renewing a lease) • - in fine II. fine verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English finen, from Middle French finer to end, pay (as a fine), from fin, n., end transitive verb 1. : to pay by way of fine or composition 2. [fine (I) ] : to set a fine on by judgment of a court especially as a punishment : punish by fine intransitive verb archaic : to pay a fine, penalty, composition, ransom, or consideration for any special privilege or exemption; especially : to pay for release from accepting the duties of an office — often used with for, off, or down III. fine adjective (-er/-est) Etymology: Middle English fin, fine, from Old French fin, from Latin finis, n., boundary, limit, end (as in such phrases as finis honorum the height of honor, the highest honor; translation of Greek telos, literally, end) — more at final , wheel 1. a. : free from impurity : brought to perfection : highly purified : refined , superior , pure < fine gold and silver > b. of a metal : having a stated proportion of pure metal in the composition < gold 23 karats fine > — compare fineness 2b c. of glass : freed from bubbles 2. a. (1) : very small : minute < fine print > (2) : marked by subtlety, refinement, or intricacy of thought or expression : hairsplitting < very fine legal points were involved > < I cannot follow these fine distinctions > (3) : performed with extreme care and accuracy < fine measurement > < fine adjustment > (4) of bodily tremors : of slight excursion b. : not coarse : constituting small particles < fine sand > < fine flour > c. (1) : not thick or clumsy : slender , filmy < fine thread > < fine chiffon > < a fine-boned hand > (2) of wool : having a diameter similar to that of merino wool (3) of paper : of a grade suitable for writing, printing, or drawing d. : thin , keen , attenuated < a sword with a fine edge > e. (1) : made of delicate materials : delicately fashioned or proportioned : exquisite in texture : light , clear , fair , fragile < he was fine in profile, in the texture of his fair skin — Osbert Sitwell > < many of the present inhabitants have fine skins, fair hair, and florid complexions — Tobias Smollett > < fine linen > < fine china > (2) : sharp forward or aft — used of a ship f. (1) : trained to a point of weight and muscular activity close to the limit of efficiency — used of an athlete or animal (2) cricket : being to the rear of the defending batsman and nearer than usual to the line of flight of a bowled ball < caught at fine leg > — compare square g. : having a delicate or subtle quality < the fine scent of burning wax — Vicki Baum > < the fine bouquet of a vintage wine > < the fine irony of it all > < fine, rapier-edged humor > 3. a. obsolete : clever , ingenious , cunning , crafty b. : subtle, sensitive, or acute in perception or feeling < he has a fine ear for the … idiomatic English that passes for conversation among the youths of the day — Max Wilk > 4. a. : superior in character, nature, ability, or prospects : noble , skillful , excellent < a fine man > < a fine ship > < a fine musician > < you have a fine future before you > b. : superior in construction, execution, design, or expression < a fine work of art > < a fine orchestra was playing > c. : of noble or attractive appearance : beautiful , handsome , pleasant , bright < a fine view > < a fine morning > < a very fine garden > d. (1) : ornate , showy : elegant < fine feathers make fine birds > < wore a fine new dress > (2) of writing : excessively ornate : affectedly elegant : florid , rhetorical < this last sentence is so fine I am quite ashamed — Thomas Gray > (3) : marked by or displaying elegance or refinement often affected or excessive : fastidious , dainty < our fine neighbors wouldn't speak to the likes of us > < sneered at the stranger's fine ways > 5. a. : splendid , notable , admirable < spoke with fine enthusiasm > < his terrible slashing wit, his fine scorn of stupidity and cowardice — John Reed > < what a fine darling baby > b. : great , terrific , awful — used as an intensive < had come running in a fine embarrassment — Glenway Westcott > < you make a fine mistake if you think I'm out for quarreling — Mrs. Patrick Campbell > c. : very well : excellent < I feel fine > IV. fine adverb Etymology: Middle English fin, fine, from fin, fine, adjective 1. : finely: as a. : elegantly , mincingly < talks and walks so fine, just like a great lady > b. : splendidly , well < you did fine > < he made out fine > < I liked it fine > c. : subtly , delicately , minutely < the line between victory and defeat … will be fine drawn > 2. Scotland : surely : for certain < fine I know him though I haven't seen him for years — John Buchan > 3. : with a very narrow margin of time or space — often used with cut or run < close thing … mustn't run it so fine another time — P.G.Wodehouse > V. fine verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English finen, from fin, fine, adjective transitive verb 1. : refine , purify , clarify < fine and filter wine > < beer is sometimes fined before bottling — B.M.Brown > < fine gold > < the glass will be fully fined before being admitted to the working chamber — Glass Industry > 2. : to make finer or less coarse or dull in quality, size, bulk, texture, or appearance < fine his wits > : sharpen , pulverize — often used with down < the one-way disc plow … fines the soil to the extent of increasing losses from blowing — Soils & Men > < the women, except … where Italian influence has fined down the bone structure, are … well built — Don Smith > < material fined and refined until every … word … has its place in an artistic whole — Times Literary Supplement > < fined his tuning, eliminating the interference — Rayne Kruger > < in this story … human beings are fined down to bee size — New York Herald Tribune > 3. : to make less or finer by graduations — used with away or down < fine down a ship's lines > intransitive verb 1. : to become fine, pure, or clear < the weather gradually fined > < the ale will fine > — often used with off 2. : to become fine in lines or proportions : diminish , dwindle — often used with away or down < even her fatness seemed puppy fat … that must fine down before very long — Mollie Panter-Downes > VI. fi·ne \ˈfē(ˌ)nā\ noun Etymology: Italian, from Latin finis boundary, limit, end — more at final : end — used as a direction in music to mark the closing point after a repeatVII. fine \fēn\ noun (-s) Etymology: French, short for fine champagne : ordinary French brandy; especially : one of undisclosed origin sold in French restaurants |
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