I. ADJECTIVE USES
/faɪn/
( finer, finest)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
You use fine to describe something that you admire and think is very good.
There is a fine view of the countryside...
This is a fine book.
...London’s finest art deco cinema.
ADJ : usu ADJ n
• fine‧ly
They are finely engineered boats.
ADV : ADV -ed
2.
If you say that you are fine , you mean that you are in good health or reasonably happy.
Lina is fine and sends you her love and best wishes.
ADJ : v-link ADJ
3.
If you say that something is fine , you mean that it is satisfactory or acceptable.
The skiing is fine...
Everything was going to be just fine...
It’s fine to ask questions as we go along, but it’s better if you wait until we have finished.
ADJ : usu v-link ADJ , oft it v-link ADJ to-inf
•
Fine is also an adverb.
All the instruments are working fine.
ADV
4.
You say ‘ fine ’ or ‘ that’s fine ’ to show that you do not object to an arrangement, action, or situation that has been suggested.
If competition is the best way to achieve it, then, fine...
If you don’t want to give it to me, that’s fine, I don’t mind...
CONVENTION [ formulae ]
5.
Something that is fine is very delicate, narrow, or small.
The heat scorched the fine hairs on her arms...
≠ coarse
ADJ : usu ADJ n
• fine‧ly
Chop the ingredients finely and mix them together.
≠ coarsely
ADV : ADV with v
6.
Fine objects or clothing are of good quality, delicate, and expensive.
We waited in our fine clothes...
ADJ : usu ADJ n
7.
A fine detail or distinction is very delicate, small, or exact.
The market likes the broad outline but is reserving judgment on the fine detail.
ADJ : usu ADJ n
• fine‧ly
They had to take the finely balanced decision to let the visit proceed...
ADV : usu ADV -ed , also ADV after v
• fine‧ness
...a sense of quality and fineness of detail.
N-UNCOUNT : oft N of n
8.
A fine person is someone you consider good, moral, and worth admiring.
He was an excellent journalist and a very fine man.
ADJ : usu ADJ n [ approval ]
9.
When the weather is fine , the sun is shining and it is not raining.
He might be doing a spot of gardening if the weather is fine.
ADJ
II. PUNISHMENT
/faɪn/
( fines, fining, fined)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A fine is a punishment in which a person is ordered to pay a sum of money because they have done something illegal or broken a rule.
N-COUNT
2.
If someone is fined , they are punished by being ordered to pay a sum of money because they have done something illegal or broken a rule.
She was fined £300 and banned from driving for one month...
An east London school has set a precedent by fining pupils who break the rules.
VERB : be V-ed , V n