~ 1 [ fʌɪn ]
■ adjective
1》 of very high quality.
↘satisfactory.
↘healthy and feeling well.
↘(of the weather) bright and clear.
↘(of speech or writing) sounding impressive but ultimately insincere: ~ words.
↘(of gold or silver) containing a specified high proportion of pure metal.
2》 very thin: ~ hair.
↘consisting of small particles.
↘of delicate or intricate workmanship.
↘subtle and therefore perceptible with difficulty: a ~ distinction.
↘(of a faculty) sensitive and discriminating.
3》 Cricket behind the wicket and close to the line of flight of the bowling.
■ noun ( ~s ) very small particles found in mining or milling.
■ adverb
1》 informal in a satisfactory or pleasing manner.
2》 Cricket to a ~ position.
■ verb
1》 clarify (beer or wine) by causing the precipitation of sediment.
2》 (usu. ~ something down or ~ down ) make or become thinner.
3》 ( ~ up ) N. English & Austral./NZ informal (of the weather) become bright and clear.
Phrases
cut it (or things ) ~ allow a very small margin of time.
one's ~r feelings one's conscience or sense of morality.
one's ~st hour the time of one's greatest success.
not to put too ~ a point on it speak bluntly.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. fin , based on L. finire (see finish ).
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~ 2 [ fʌɪn ]
■ noun a sum of money exacted as a penalty by a court of law or other authority.
■ verb punish by a ~.
Derivatives
~able adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. fin 'end, payment', from L. finis 'end' (in med. L. denoting a sum paid on settling a lawsuit).
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~ 3 [ fi:n ]
■ noun
1》 French brandy of high quality made from distilled wine.
2》 short for ~ champagne .
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~ 4 [ 'fi:neɪ ]
■ noun Music the place where a piece of music finishes (when at the end of a repeated section rather than at the end of the score).
Origin
Ital., from L. finis 'end'.