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