fine
fine art (fine arts)
1 [N-UNCOUNT] also N in pl
Painting and sculpture, in which objects are produced that are beautiful rather than useful, can be referred to as fine art or as the fine arts.
He deals in antiques and fine art.
...the university of Cairo's faculty of fine arts.
2 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you have got something down to a fine art, you are able to do it in a very skilful or efficient way because you have had a lot of experience of doing it.fine print
[N-UNCOUNT] usu the N
In a contract or agreement, the fine print is the same as the small print.♦♦ fine1 /f'aɪn/ (fine finer finest) ADJECTIVE USES
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You use fine to describe something that you admire and think is very good.
There is a fine view of the countryside...
This is a fine book.
...London's finest art deco cinema.
● finely [ADV] ADV -ed
They are finely engineered boats.
2 [ADJ] v-link ADJ
If you say that you are fine, you mean that you are in good health or reasonably happy.
Lina is fine and sends you her love and best wishes.
3 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ to-inf
If you say that something is fine, you mean that it is satisfactory or acceptable.
The skiing is fine...
Everything was going to be just fine...
It's fine to ask questions as we go along, but it's better if you wait until we have finished.
[ADV]
Fine is also an adverb.
All the instruments are working fine.
4 [CONVENTION]
You say `fine' or `that's fine' to show that you do not object to an arrangement, action, or situation that has been suggested.
If competition is the best way to achieve it, then, fine...
If you don't want to give it to me, that's fine, I don't mind...
5 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Something that is fine is very delicate, narrow, or small.
The heat scorched the fine hairs on her arms...
≠ coarse
● finely [ADV] ADV with v
Chop the ingredients finely and mix them together.
≠ coarsely
6 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Fine objects or clothing are of good quality, delicate, and expensive.
We waited in our fine clothes...
7 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A fine detail or distinction is very delicate, small, or exact.
The market likes the broad outline but is reserving judgment on the fine detail.
● finely [ADV] usu ADV -ed, also ADV after v
They had to take the finely balanced decision to let the visit proceed...
● fineness [N-UNCOUNT] oft N of n
...a sense of quality and fineness of detail.
8 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A fine person is someone you consider good, moral, and worth admiring.
He was an excellent journalist and a very fine man.
9 [ADJ]
When the weather is fine, the sun is shining and it is not raining.
He might be doing a spot of gardening if the weather is fine.♦ fine2 /f'aɪn/ (fine fines fining fined) PUNISHMENT
1 [N-COUNT]
A fine is a punishment in which a person is ordered to pay a sum of money because they have done something illegal or broken a rule.
2 [VERB] be V-ed, V n
If someone is fined, they are punished by being ordered to pay a sum of money because they have done something illegal or broken a rule.
She was fined £300 and banned from driving for one month...
An east London school has set a precedent by fining pupils who break the rules.
1 [N-UNCOUNT] also N in pl
Painting and sculpture, in which objects are produced that are beautiful rather than useful, can be referred to as fine art or as the fine arts.
He deals in antiques and fine art.
...the university of Cairo's faculty of fine arts.
2 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you have got something down to a fine art, you are able to do it in a very skilful or efficient way because you have had a lot of experience of doing it.fine print
[N-UNCOUNT] usu the N
In a contract or agreement, the fine print is the same as the small print.♦♦ fine1 /f'aɪn/ (fine finer finest) ADJECTIVE USES
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You use fine to describe something that you admire and think is very good.
There is a fine view of the countryside...
This is a fine book.
...London's finest art deco cinema.
● finely [ADV] ADV -ed
They are finely engineered boats.
2 [ADJ] v-link ADJ
If you say that you are fine, you mean that you are in good health or reasonably happy.
Lina is fine and sends you her love and best wishes.
3 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ to-inf
If you say that something is fine, you mean that it is satisfactory or acceptable.
The skiing is fine...
Everything was going to be just fine...
It's fine to ask questions as we go along, but it's better if you wait until we have finished.
[ADV]
Fine is also an adverb.
All the instruments are working fine.
4 [CONVENTION]
You say `fine' or `that's fine' to show that you do not object to an arrangement, action, or situation that has been suggested.
If competition is the best way to achieve it, then, fine...
If you don't want to give it to me, that's fine, I don't mind...
5 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Something that is fine is very delicate, narrow, or small.
The heat scorched the fine hairs on her arms...
≠ coarse
● finely [ADV] ADV with v
Chop the ingredients finely and mix them together.
≠ coarsely
6 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Fine objects or clothing are of good quality, delicate, and expensive.
We waited in our fine clothes...
7 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A fine detail or distinction is very delicate, small, or exact.
The market likes the broad outline but is reserving judgment on the fine detail.
● finely [ADV] usu ADV -ed, also ADV after v
They had to take the finely balanced decision to let the visit proceed...
● fineness [N-UNCOUNT] oft N of n
...a sense of quality and fineness of detail.
8 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A fine person is someone you consider good, moral, and worth admiring.
He was an excellent journalist and a very fine man.
9 [ADJ]
When the weather is fine, the sun is shining and it is not raining.
He might be doing a spot of gardening if the weather is fine.♦ fine2 /f'aɪn/ (fine fines fining fined) PUNISHMENT
1 [N-COUNT]
A fine is a punishment in which a person is ordered to pay a sum of money because they have done something illegal or broken a rule.
2 [VERB] be V-ed, V n
If someone is fined, they are punished by being ordered to pay a sum of money because they have done something illegal or broken a rule.
She was fined £300 and banned from driving for one month...
An east London school has set a precedent by fining pupils who break the rules.