Finer

fine ¹  (fn)

adj. fin·er, fin·est

1. Of superior quality, skill, or appearance: a fine day; a fine writer.

2. Very small in size, weight, or thickness: fine type; fine paper.

3.

a. Free from impurities.

b. Metallurgy Containing pure metal in a specified proportion or amount: gold 21 carats fine.

4. Very sharp; keen: a blade with a fine edge.

5. Thin; slender: fine hairs.

6. Exhibiting careful and delicate artistry: fine china. See Synonyms at delicate.

7. Consisting of very small particles; not coarse: fine dust.

8.

a. Subtle or precise: a fine difference.

b. Able to make or detect effects of great subtlety or precision; sensitive: has a fine eye for color.

9. Trained to the highest degree of physical efficiency: a fine racehorse.

10. Characterized by refinement or elegance.

11. Satisfactory; acceptable: Handing in your paper on Monday is fine.

12. Being in a state of satisfactory health; quite well: I'm fine. And you?

13. Used as an intensive: a fine mess.

adv.

1. Finely.

2. Informal Very well: doing fine.

tr. & intr.v. fined, fin·ing, fines

To make or become finer, purer, or cleaner.

---

[Middle English fin, from Old French, from Latin fnis, end, supreme degree.]

---

fineness n.

---

fine ²  (fn)

n.

1. A sum of money required to be paid as a penalty for an offense.

2. Law

a. A forfeiture or penalty to be paid to the offended party in a civil action.

b. An amicable settlement of a suit over land ownership.

3. Obsolete An end; a termination.

tr.v. fined, fin·ing, fines

To require the payment of a fine from; impose a fine on.

Idiom:

in fine

1. In conclusion; finally.

2. In summation; in brief.

---

[Middle English fin, from Old French, settlement, compensation, from Medieval Latin fnis, from Latin, end.]

---

fina·ble, finea·ble adj.

---

fi·ne ³  (fn)

n. Music

The end.

---

[Italian, from Latin fnis, end.]

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

finer - (comparative of `fine') greater in quality or excellence; "a finer wine"; "a finer musician" comparative, comparative degree - the comparative form of an adjective or adverb; "`faster' is the comparative of the adjective `fast'"; "`less famous' is the comparative degree of the adjective `famous'"; "`more surely' is the comparative of the adverb `surely'" better - (comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another; "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din"; "a better coat"; "a better type of car"; "a suit with a better fit"; "a better chance of success"; "produced a better mousetrap"; "she's better in math than in history"