Fine - English meaning

adjective

Arousing or deserving respect and approval.

Usage examples:

He has one admirable quality—he is totally honest

adjective

Deserving respect or approval

Usage examples:

I think you showed admirable tact/restraint/self-control in your answer., the police did an admirab…

verb

Reduce the force, effect, or value of.

Usage examples:

This research provides a glimmer of hope that coral reefs can attenuate the effects of ocean acidif…

adjective

Reduced in force, effect, or physical thickness.

Usage examples:

The doctrines of christianity became very attenuate and distorted

verb

To make something less or weaker

Usage examples:

Radiation from the sun is attenuated by the earth's atmosphere., they propose more peacekeeping tro…

adjective

Pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.

Usage examples:

Beautiful poetry

adjective

Having an attractive quality that gives pleasure to those who experience it or think about it

Usage examples:

I thought she was the most beautiful woman i’d ever seen., the scenery around here is beautiful., w…

adjective

Very attractive

Usage examples:

A beautiful woman, breathtakingly beautiful scenery, she was wearing a beautiful dress.

verb

Demand (an amount) as a price for a service rendered or goods supplied.

Usage examples:

Wedding planners may charge an hourly fee of up to £150

noun

A price asked for goods or services.

Usage examples:

Our standard charge for a letter is £25

noun

An ambassador's deputy.

noun

An act of choosing between two or more possibilities.

Usage examples:

The choice between good and evil

adjective

(especially of food) of very good quality.

Usage examples:

He picked some choice early plums

noun

An act of choosing; a decision

Usage examples:

[ c ] a difficult/easy choice, [ c ] when you’re trying to cut the budget deficit, you’ve got to ma…

verb

Make (a statement or situation) less confused and more comprehensible.

Usage examples:

The report managed to clarify the government's position

Make clear by removing impurities or solids, as by heating

verb

To make something clearer or easier to understand

Usage examples:

I hope this analysis will clarify the debate., talking it through with you has helped me to clarify…

adjective

Easy to perceive, understand, or interpret.

Usage examples:

Clear and precise directions

adverb

So as to be out of the way of or away from.

Usage examples:

He leapt clear of the car

verb

Remove an obstruction or unwanted item or items from.

Usage examples:

The drive had been cleared of snow

adjective

Full of or covered in cobwebs (= nets of sticky threads made by spiders for catching insects)

Usage examples:

Holes in the floors reveal the dark, cobwebby basement below., the inside of the castle, cavernous …

adjective

Similar to a cobweb (= a net of sticky threads made by a spider for catching insects)

Usage examples:

The plant's spherical, cobwebby buds are covered with prickles., cobwebby knitwear has become somet…

verb

Make narrower, especially by encircling pressure.

Usage examples:

Chemicals that constrict the blood vessels

verb

To make or become tighter and narrower

Usage examples:

[ t ] bright sunlight constricts the pupil of the eye.

verb

To become tighter and narrower, or to make something become tighter and narrower

Usage examples:

He hated wearing a tie - he felt it constricted his breathing., when you're dancing, you don't want…

noun

Physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of something.

Usage examples:

Bombing caused extensive damage to the town

verb

Inflict physical harm on (something) so as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function.

Usage examples:

The car was badly damaged in the accident

plural noun

Money that is paid to someone by a person or organization who was responsible for causing some injury or loss

Usage examples:

They were awarded $500,000 in damages.

adjective

Very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality.

Usage examples:

A delicate lace shawl

noun

A delicate fabric or garment.

Usage examples:

The delicates cycle of a washing machine

adjective

Needing careful treatment, esp. because easily damaged

Usage examples:

A delicate flower, delicate jewelry, the negotiations have reached a delicate stage., it’s a delica…

adjective

(especially of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent.

Usage examples:

A diaphanous dress of pale gold

adjective

A diaphanous substance, especially cloth, is so delicate and thin that you can see through it

Usage examples:

A diaphanous silk veil

adjective

Extremely good; outstanding.

Usage examples:

The lorry was in excellent condition

exclamation

Used to indicate approval or pleasure.

Usage examples:

‘what a lovely idea! excellent!’

adjective

Extremely good

Usage examples:

The car is in excellent condition., the school is known for its excellence.

adjective

Unusual; not typical.

Usage examples:

Late claims will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances

noun

An item in a company's accounts arising from its normal activity but much larger or smaller than usual.

Usage examples:

This drop in operating profit caused pre-tax profit before accounting for exceptionals to fall from…

adjective

Not like most others of the same type; unusual

Usage examples:

This is an exceptional contract, guaranteeing no layoffs., davis has done an exceptional job of rep…

adjective

Extremely beautiful and delicate.

Usage examples:

Exquisite, jewel-like portraits

noun

A man who is affectedly concerned with his clothes and appearance; a dandy.

Usage examples:

Using brightly coloured, almost grotesque distortion of an individual's salient features, he target…

adjective

Of extreme beauty

adjective

Having, covered with, or resembling feathers.

Usage examples:

Wisps of feathery blonde hair

adjective

Soft or delicate, or made of many very small and delicate pieces

Usage examples:

Feathery clouds/foliage/leaves, feathery blond hair

noun

A payment made to a professional person or to a professional or public body in exchange for advice or services.

Usage examples:

They were faced with legal fees of £3000

verb

Make a payment to (someone) in return for services.

Usage examples:

Others offer discounts on software purchases to subscribers of their once-free, now fee'd, online s…

noun

An amount of money charged for a service or for the use of something

Usage examples:

An admission fee, the doctor’s usual fee is $125.

adjective

(especially of fabric) thin and translucent.

Usage examples:

Filmy white voile

adjective

Very thin and often transparent

Usage examples:

Filmy material, a filmy dress

noun

A porous device for removing impurities or solid particles from a liquid or gas passed through it.

Usage examples:

An oil filter

verb

Pass (a liquid, gas, light, or sound) through a device to remove unwanted material.

Usage examples:

The eye filters out ultraviolet radiation

noun

A piece of equipment or a device for removing solids from liquids or gases, or for limiting the particular type of light, sound, or electricity going through it

Usage examples:

An oil filter, a coffee filter, [ i always + adv/prep ] reports of the accident began to filter in.…

noun

The best group or class, esp. the most expensive seats on a plane or a train

Usage examples:

I upgraded my plane ticket to first class from tourist class., a first-class education, the price o…

adjective

Of excellent quality

Usage examples:

The work that she did on the project was first class., he really is pre-eminent in the field and ha…

adjective

Extremely good

Usage examples:

A first-rate performance

adjective

Of the highest quality

Usage examples:

The country's universities are first-rate., we were very impressed with what glasgow has to offer a…

adjective

Insubstantial and easily damaged.

Usage examples:

A flimsy barrier

noun

A document, especially a copy, made on very thin paper.

Usage examples:

Credit-card flimsies

adjective

(of material) very thin, or (of a structure or object) badly made and weak, and therefore easily broken or destroyed

Usage examples:

A flimsy dress, a flimsy building, they convicted the defendant on very flimsy evidence.

adjective

(especially of a woman's garment or a fabric) light and flimsy.

Usage examples:

Elegant floaty dresses

noun

An inflatable object on which a person may sit or recline while floating in water.

Usage examples:

She plopped down on a pool floatie

adjective

A floaty material is very light and moves in the air

Usage examples:

Floaty dresses, at age three, he ripped off his floaties and jumped into the deep end., there's onl…

adjective

(of a person's hair) fine and difficult to control.

Usage examples:

The gel is designed to smooth down flyaway hair

noun

A fine strand of hair that sticks out or does not lie smoothly against the rest of the hair; a stray hair.

Usage examples:

Pin the ends and any flyaways into place

adjective

Flyaway hair is soft, light, and difficult to keep in place.

verb

Lose or be deprived of (property or a right or privilege) as a penalty for wrongdoing.

Usage examples:

Those unable to meet their taxes were liable to forfeit their estates

noun

A fine or penalty for wrongdoing.

Usage examples:

The loser must pay a forfeit

adjective

Lost or surrendered as a penalty for wrongdoing.

Usage examples:

His possessions were declared forfeit

noun

The loss or giving up of something as a penalty for wrongdoing.

Usage examples:

Magistrates ordered the forfeiture of his computer

noun

The loss of rights, property, or money, especially because you have not obeyed a rule or law

Usage examples:

Forfeiture of sth i had been told that my client would face 40 years in prison and a forfeiture of …

noun

The loss of rights, property, or money, especially as a result of breaking a legal agreement

Usage examples:

He was deep in debt and facing forfeiture of his property.

adjective

Resembling gauze; thin and translucent.

Usage examples:

A gauzy dress

adjective

Made of a very thin, light cloth

Usage examples:

A gauzy yellow curtain hangs in the window., her hat had a white gauzy veil that protected her face.

noun

A fine, filmy substance consisting of cobwebs spun by small spiders, seen especially in autumn.

Usage examples:

So i made a classic cross-hair from spider's gossamer and used it to pinpoint a cell in the area i …

noun

The very thin thread that spiders produce to make webs

Usage examples:

Gossamer wings, a gossamer veil

adjective

Very delicate and light

Usage examples:

Gossamer wings, a gossamer veil

adjective

Of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above average.

Usage examples:

The article was of great interest

noun

An important or distinguished person.

Usage examples:

The beatles, bob dylan, all the greats

adverb

Another term for literae humaniores.

adjective

Lacking strength and solidity.

Usage examples:

The huts are relatively few and insubstantial

adjective

Of little value or importance, or not being strong, solid, or large

Usage examples:

He was popular during the early part of the 20th century, but today his work seems dated and insubs…

adjective

Not enough or not strong enough

Usage examples:

An insubstantial meal, insubstantial evidence

noun

The natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.

Usage examples:

The light of the sun

verb

Provide with light or lighting; illuminate.

Usage examples:

The room was lit by a number of small lamps

adjective

Having a considerable or sufficient amount of natural light; not dark.

Usage examples:

The bedrooms are light and airy

noun

A weight in boxing and other sports intermediate between featherweight and welterweight. in the amateur boxing scale it ranges from 57 to 60 kg.

Usage examples:

Henry armstrong held world titles at featherweight, lightweight and welterweight simultaneously and…

adjective

Of thin material or build and weighing less than average.

Usage examples:

A lightweight grey suit

adjective

(esp. of clothes) weighing little and therefore not warm

Usage examples:

A lightweight jacket, the movie was a lightweight comedy.

adjective

Extremely beautiful, elaborate, or impressive.

Usage examples:

A dramatic landscape of magnificent mountains

verb

Extract money from (someone) by fine or taxation.

Usage examples:

They have turned mulcting taxpayers into an art form

noun

A fine or compulsory payment.

Usage examples:

The punishments and penalty for first offense could include a jailhouse term of up to one twelvemon…

verb

To make someone pay money, as a fine (= a punishment) or in tax

Usage examples:

The jury mulcted me for $50.

adjective

Of small width in relation to length.

Usage examples:

He made his way down the narrow road

verb

Become or make less wide.

Usage examples:

The road narrowed and crossed an old bridge

noun

A narrow channel connecting two larger areas of water.

Usage examples:

There was a car ferry across the narrows of loch long

adjective

Exceptionally good.

Usage examples:

The team's outstanding performance

Of major significance or importance

verb

Subject to a penalty or punishment.

Usage examples:

High-spending councils will be penalized

verb

To punish someone, esp. for breaking the law or a rule

Usage examples:

The new law penalizes the taxpayers who can least afford to pay., boone was penalized for unnecessa…

verb

To treat someone or something in a way that gives them a disadvantage

Usage examples:

The current tax system penalizes people on low incomes., the stock was penalized because wall stree…

noun

A punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract.

Usage examples:

The charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years' imprisonment

noun

A punishment, esp. the usual one, for breaking a law

Usage examples:

Repeat offenders should face stiff/tough penalties., if you pay off the loan early, they’ll charge …

noun

An amount of money that someone is forced to pay for failing to obey a rule, law, etc.

Usage examples:

Taxpayers who do not send in their tax return by the deadline will pay a £100 penalty., exit/early-…

noun

Punishment inflicted on oneself as an outward expression of repentance for wrongdoing.

Usage examples:

He had done public penance for those hasty words

verb

Impose a penance on.

Usage examples:

The bishop penanced him severely for his conduct

noun

Activity that shows you regret some previous action, sometimes for religious reasons

Usage examples:

[ u ] they are doing penance for their sins.

adjective

Of first importance; main.

Usage examples:

A nurse's prime concern is the well-being of the patient

noun

The state or time of greatest vigour or success in a person's life.

Usage examples:

You're in the prime of life

verb

Make (something) ready for use or action.

Usage examples:

He grabbed a gun from a nearby wall and primed it

noun

The infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offence.

Usage examples:

Crime demands just punishment

verb

Remove contaminants from.

Usage examples:

The filtration plant is able to purify 70 tons of water a day

verb

To rid something of dirty or harmful substances

Usage examples:

Flower growers here are required to purify all their runoff water.

noun

The standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something.

Usage examples:

An improvement in product quality

adjective

Of good quality; excellent.

Usage examples:

He's a quality player

noun

The degree of excellence of something, often a high degree of it

Usage examples:

Our company guarantees the quality of our merchandise., the fabric was of the highest quality., we’…

verb

Remove impurities or unwanted elements from (a substance), typically as part of an industrial process.

Usage examples:

Sugar was refined by boiling it in huge iron vats

verb

To make a substance pure by removing unwanted material

Usage examples:

Sugar and oil are refined before use., we haven’t finished refining the plan yet.

verb

To improve something or to make it pure, especially by removing material that is not wanted

Usage examples:

Crude oil is industrially refined to purify it., engineers spent many months refining the software.

noun

A threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule.

Usage examples:

A range of sanctions aimed at deterring insider abuse

verb

Give official permission or approval for (an action).

Usage examples:

The scheme was sanctioned by the court

noun

Approval or permission

Usage examples:

To be just, a government must have the sanction of the governed., trade/economic sanctions, the un …

verb

Carefully choose as being the best or most suitable.

Usage examples:

Children must select their gcse subjects

adjective

(of a group of people or things) carefully chosen from a larger number as being the best or most valuable.

Usage examples:

He joined his select team of young intelligence operatives

verb

Pick out or choose from a number of alternatives

adjective

Nothing other than; unmitigated (used for emphasis).

Usage examples:

She giggled with sheer delight

adverb

Perpendicularly.

Usage examples:

The ridge fell sheer, in steep crags

noun

A very fine or diaphanous fabric or article.

Usage examples:

I put up the new curtains and sheers

adjective

Shining with a soft, slightly wavering light.

Usage examples:

The shimmering waters of lake como

verb

Shine with a soft, slightly wavering light.

Usage examples:

The sea shimmered in the sunlight

adjective

Reflecting a gentle light that seems to move slightly

Usage examples:

We drove across the desert, through the shimmering heat haze., a shimmering new production of "a mi…

adjective

Of or resembling silk, especially in being soft, fine, and lustrous.

Usage examples:

The fur felt silky and soft

adjective

Made of silk, or soft and smooth like silk

Usage examples:

A silky nightgown, silky fabrics

adjective

Magnificent; very impressive.

Usage examples:

A splendid view of windsor castle

adjective

Extremely good, large, or important

Usage examples:

Our splendid weather ended with a terrible storm., the splendid old opera house was torn down.

noun

A small sharp-pointed organ at the end of the abdomen of bees, wasps, ants, and scorpions, capable of inflicting a painful or dangerous wound by injecting poison.

Usage examples:

The poor fellow has neither the tusks of the elephant, nor the claws of the lion, nor even the horn…

verb

Wound or pierce with a sting.

Usage examples:

He was stung by a jellyfish

verb

(esp. of insects, plants, and animals) to produce a small but painful injury by making a very small hole in the skin

Usage examples:

[ i ] why do bees sting?, [ t ] cold air stung jack’s lungs., [ i ] the soap made his eyes sting., …

verb

Make or become narrow.

Usage examples:

The passage was straitened by tables

adjective

Of very great excellence or beauty.

Usage examples:

Mozart's sublime piano concertos

verb

(of a solid substance) change directly into vapour when heated, typically forming a solid deposit again on cooling.

Usage examples:

The ice sublimed away, leaving the books dry and undamaged

adjective

Extremely good, beautiful, or enjoyable, and therefore satisfying

Usage examples:

Sublime food/scenery

adjective

Very good; excellent.

Usage examples:

A superb performance

adjective

Higher in rank, status, or quality.

Usage examples:

A superior officer

noun

A person superior to another in rank or status, especially a colleague in a higher position.

Usage examples:

Obeying their superiors' orders

adjective

Better than average, or better than others of the same type

Usage examples:

They were clearly the superior team., some people think acoustic recordings are superior to digital…

adjective

Highest in rank or authority.

Usage examples:

A unified force with a supreme commander

noun

A rich cream sauce.

Usage examples:

Chicken supreme

adjective

At the highest level

Usage examples:

The dictionary was called the supreme authority on all matters relating to the language., he was su…

verb

Diminish or reduce in thickness towards one end.

Usage examples:

The tail tapers to a rounded tip

noun

A slender candle.

Usage examples:

He lit the tapers in the silver candelabra

verb

To become gradually narrower

Usage examples:

[ t ] the drill bit is tapered on one end.

adjective

With opposite surfaces or sides that are close or relatively close together.

Usage examples:

Thin slices of bread

adverb

With little thickness or depth.

Usage examples:

Cut the ham as thin as possible

verb

Make or become less dense, crowded, or numerous.

Usage examples:

The remorseless fire of archers thinned their ranks

adjective

Consisting of extremely fine (= small or thin) pieces or drops

Usage examples:

People may develop heart disease when they are exposed to ultra-fine particles that are common poll…

adjective

Very delicate and thin

Usage examples:

The ultra-fine wool from the flock is used to make a line of high-end clothing., it's time to swap …

adjective

(of hair, threads, smoke, etc.) fine; feathery.

Usage examples:

The sky was blue with a few wispy clouds

adjective

In the form of a wisp or wisps

Usage examples:

A wispy cloud/fringe, wispy hair

adjective

Inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good; marvellous.

Usage examples:

They all think she's wonderful

adjective

Extremely good

Usage examples:

Becoming a father was the most wonderful experience of my life., i took a vacation and feel wonderf…