FIX


Meaning of FIX in English

I. ˈfiks verb

( -ed/-ing/-es )

Etymology: Middle English fixen, from Latin fixus, past participle of figere to fasten, pierce — more at dike

transitive verb

1.

a.

(1) : to make (a material object) firm, stable, or stationary : make fast

fix a post in the ground

the internal passport system introduced … to fix the population — Bernard Pares

(2) : to implant firmly (as an idea or institution) : make permanent

intent on fixing a way of life outmoded in the home country — D.M.Friedenberg

harsh words, threats … only fix the habit deeper — H.R.Litchfield & L.H.Dembo

(3) : to give a final or permanent form to : make definite and settled : crystallize

fixed the cultural pattern that dominates the contemporary scene — American Guide Series: Minnesota

Greene and his fellows evolved the style of what was to become Shakespearean drama, and … Marlowe fixed it — W.B.Adams

(4) : to give definite, visible, or fixed form to (something that is intangible, fleeting, or elusive) : capture , evoke

that other aspect of truth which the scientist tries to catch and fix — J.L.Lowes

fixed their fears … in ebony images — F.J.Mather

a voyage of speculation that aimed rather to survey the world than to fix a convincing vision — Edmund Wilson

fix in words, before time blurs them, the clear lineaments of genius — Dock Leaves

b.

(1) : to make nonvolatile or solid : cause to form a nonvolatile or solid compound

fix ammonia

also : combine

fix nitrogen to form ammonia

leaves of many plants take up carbon dioxide and fix it in organic acids

(2) : to make (a fertilizer element or a trace element) insoluble by combination with soil minerals and thus often unavailable or only slowly available to plants

(3) : to make (a perfume) more lasting by adding a substance that reduces the rate of evaporation

(4) : to treat so as to make some condition permanent

fix an oil in the vapor state by mixing it with a gas

(5) : to make the image of (a photographic negative or positive) more permanent by changing the unused silver salts to a soluble form that can be removed by washing

(6) : to kill, harden, and preserve (as organisms or fresh tissues) for microscopic study or other purposes usually by immersion in dilute acids, alcohol, or solutions of substances that quickly coagulate living tissue

(7) : to establish or make (as a trait, quality, peculiarity) permanent by selective breeding

c.

(1) : fasten , attach , affix

once the toxin has been combined with our tissues, it remains firmly fixed to them — Justina Hill

the old-fashioned scythe blade … usually works loose, unless skillfully fixed — F.D.Smith & Barbara Wilcox

will be able to fix a silver and red badge to their vehicles — New York Times

(2) : to direct in an unwavering or concentrated manner : concentrate

fixed his ambition upon orthopedic surgery as his lifework — J.M.Phalen

specifically : to direct an unwavering gaze upon

his mother fixes him icily — Samuel Taylor

fixed her with his eye — Agnes S. Turnbull

(3) : to hold fast : capture

tried to fix her eyes with his, but she was … looking away — Marcia Davenport

seemed capable of being … attractive without wanting to fix the attention of every man near her — Jane Austen

2.

a. : to set or place definitely : station , settle

fixed his residence in the city

fixed himself in New York

b. : to assign precisely : settle on : determine , define

federal and state courts fix not only wages but hours and working conditions as well — Nathaniel Peffer

fix the limits of a debate

wonder why such a lonely spot was fixed in the first place — Sydney Moorhouse

difficult to fix the place of this remarkable statesman in history

no time or place has yet been fixed — Jess Whitworth

c. : assign , place

fix responsibility

fix the guilt

so many mistakes were made … that it was difficult to fix the blame — Isaac Rosenfeld

3.

a. : to set or place in order or in a certain pattern : adjust or settle properly or for a desired end

fixed his face in an expression of mock disgust — C.B.Flood

fixed his spectacles and read aloud — George Meredith

fixed its door so that it couldn't be opened from the outside — Raymond Chandler

b. : to line the hearth of (a furnace) with fettling

4.

a.

(1) : to put in neat-appearing order : arrange , prepare

fixed the same room for you — Ellen Glasgow

fixed their hair in the Hollywood manner — Norman Cousins

asked me to fix the table for the family dinner

specifically : to get (food) ready

fixes lunches for the children to take to school — New York Times

coffee fixed with milk — Lorraine Calhoun

fixed himself a drink

(2) : repair , mend

they know how to fix their cars — Feliks Gross

called in a plumber to fix the drain

also : to improve the physical condition of : restore , cure — often used with up

that doctor fixed up my son fine

told her that food would fix her up — E.D.Radin

(3) : to take care of : see to : solve

getting your name in the society columns won't fix anything — Better Homes & Gardens

anything that's wrong with our life today, people expect the schools to fix — Hannah Lees

— often used with impersonal it as object

the battalion surgeon fixed it so I didn't have to go to the hospital — P.B.Kyne

(4) : castrate , spay

(5) : to remove a principal means of defense from (as a pet skunk)

b. : to do for (someone) : get even with : punish

wish I could fix them — P.G.Wodehouse

God'll fix you — Dan Browne

the vigilante committee warned sheepmen away … on the threat of fixing them up — American Guide Series: Oregon

c.

(1) : to determine the outcome of (a contest) by bribery or other improper methods

all his fights have been fixed — Budd Schulberg

arrested for fixing games — Sports Illustrated

he can fix an election so that one of his stooges becomes a key official — Malcolm Johnson

: tamper with in advance

a horse fixed to lose a race

a fixed slot machine

(2) : to induce by bribery or influence to give a favorable decision

the jury had been fixed

: obtain the quashing or disposal of by tampering or other arrangement

fixes a traffic ticket or bribes a building inspector — Herman Kogan

5. slang : to give (someone) a narcotic

intransitive verb

1. : to become fixed ; especially : to become firm or stable

2.

a. : to settle or remain permanently : cease from wandering

b. : to direct the gaze or attention : focus , fixate

her eyes fixed sideways for an instant

— often used with on or upon

the examinee is then directed to fix on the examiner's right eye — H.G.Armstrong

c. : arrange , determine , agree , decide

the general had fixed to be out by that hour — Jane Austen

— usually used with on or upon

fix with a contractor on a sum to be paid for the job — Glasgow Sunday Post

had fixed on the first week in November — Edna Ferber

fixed on a cabin by the lake to spend vacation

3. : to get set : be about to : prepare , intend — used chiefly in the present participle

are fixing to ship some cattle — F.B.Gipson

fixing to cop the first postwar contract in the shipbuilding industry — Time

fixing to leave town for good — Erskine Caldwell

fixing to rain

Synonyms: see fasten , set

- fix bayonets

II. noun

( -es )

1.

a. : a position of difficulty or embarrassment : predicament , dilemma

found himself in an awful fix

b. : the position (as of a ship or airplane) obtained by bearings of fixed objects, by observation of heavenly bodies, or by radio means ; also : a determination of one's position

2. : fettling

3.

a.

(1) : an arrangement whereby relative immunity from application of the law is obtained through the employment of economic, political, or social influence and especially through the payment of money to law-enforcement officers or other authorities

collusion between state party officials and the local collector of internal revenue led to tax fixes for gamblers, racketeers, and businessmen — New Republic

(2) : the money paid (as by the owner of a gambling house) to a law-enforcement officer or other person wielding influence or authority for protection from the law : bribe

b. : an instance of collusion or private agreement that gives special or unfair advantage to one of the parties

in the dream life of the little businessman the sure fix is replacing the open market — C.W.Mills

specifically : a sports contest whose outcome is prearranged

virtually impossible for a spectator to recognize a fix even if he is told — O.R.Cohen

4. slang : a shot of a narcotic

5. : a tall drink made with alcoholic liquor, lemon juice, and sweetening, served in cracked ice, and decorated with fruit

brandy fix

gin fix

Synonyms: see predicament

III. noun

1. : an accurate determination or understanding especially by observation or analysis

a fix on the future — Will Manley

2. : a supply or dose of something strongly desired or craved

a coffee fix

3. : a solution to a problem : correction

a short-term fix to get us through this crisis

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.