fine

³fine

adj

fin·erfin·est

Definition of FINE

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·ness \ˈfīn-nəs\ noun

Examples of FINE

1. “Is there anything wrong?” “No, everything's fine.”
2. The house looks fine to me.
3. I think that's a fine idea.
4. You did a fine job.
5. The house is in fine shape.
6. This is a fine example of what can go wrong when one person is given too much power.
7. He's a fine young man.
8. “Did you hurt yourself?” “No, I'm fine.”

Origin of FINE

Middle English fin, from Anglo-French, from Latin finis, noun, end, limit

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to FINE

Synonyms: dusty, floury, powdery

Antonyms: coarse, grainy, granular, granulated

Related Words: smooth; filtered, pulverized, refined; superfine, ultrafine

Near Antonyms: rough; unfiltered, unrefined; gravelly, gritty, sandy; pebbly, rocky, stony (also stoney); lumpy, mealy

see all synonyms and antonyms

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