of superior or best quality; of high or highest grade

fine wine.

choice, excellent, or admirable

a fine painting.

consisting of minute particles

fine sand; a fine purée.

very thin or slender

fine thread.

keen or sharp, as a tool

Is the knife fine enough to carve well?

delicate in texture; filmy

fine cotton fabric.

delicately fashioned

fine tracery.

highly skilled or accomplished

a fine musician.

trained to the maximum degree, as an athlete.

characterized by or affecting refinement or elegance

a fine lady.

polished or refined

fine manners.

affectedly ornate or elegant

A style so fine repels the average reader.

delicate or subtle

a fine distinction.

bright and clear

a fine day; fine skin.

healthy; well

In spite of his recent illness, he looks fine.

showy or smart; elegant in appearance

a bird of fine plumage.

good-looking or handsome

a fine young man.

(of a precious metal or its alloy) free from impurities or containing a large amount of pure metal

fine gold; Sterling silver is 92.5 percent fine.

Informal . in an excellent manner; very well

He did fine on the exams. She sings fine.

very small

She writes so fine I can hardly read it.

Billiards, Pool . in such a way that the driven ball barely touches the object ball in passing.

Nautical . as close as possible to the wind

sailing fine.

to become fine or finer, as by refining.

to become less, as in size or proportions; reduce; diminish (often fol. by down )

The plumpness fines down with exercise.

to make fine or finer, esp. by refining or pulverizing.

to reduce the size or proportions of (often used with down or away )

to fine down the heavy features; to fine away superfluous matter in a design.

to clarify (wines or spirits) by filtration.

fines,

Mining . crushed ore sufficiently fine to pass through a given screen. Compare short ( def. 29a ) .

Agriculture . the fine bits of corn kernel knocked off during handling of the grain. ?

cut fine, to calculate precisely

esp. without allowing for possible error or accident

To finish in ten minutes is to cut it too fine.

adjective

bad , poor , cloudy , dark , rainy , stormy , coarse , rough , thick , awkward , crude , uncouth , undiscriminating , unrefined , crass , stout , unbolted

noun

amends , award , compensation , reimbursement , reward

verb

award , compensate , reimburse , reward

adjective

accomplished , aces * , admirable , attractive , beautiful , capital , choice , cool * , crack * , dandy * , elegant , enjoyable , exceptional , expensive , exquisite , fashionable , first-class , first-rate , first-string , five-star , gilt-edged , gnarly * , good-looking , great , handsome , lovely , magnificent , mean , neat * , not too shabby , ornate , outstanding , pleasant , rare , refined , select , showy , skillful , smart , solid , splendid , striking , subtle , superior , supreme , top , top-notch , unreal * , well-made , wicked * , balmy , bright , clarion , clear , clement , dry , fair , rainless , undarkened , diaphanous , ethereal , filmy , fine-drawn , fine-grained , fine-spun , flimsy , fragile , gauzy , gossamer , gossamery , granular , impalpable , light , lightweight , little , loose , minute , porous , powdered , powdery , pulverized , quality , slender , small , thin , threadlike , transparent , abstruse , acute , critical , cryptic , delicate , distinct , enigmatic , esoteric , fastidious , hairline , hairsplitting , intelligent , keen , nice , obscure , petty , precise , pure , quick , recondite , sensitive , sharp , sterling , strict , tasteful , tenuous , trifling , unadulterated , unpolluted , prime , ace , banner , blue-ribbon , brag , champion , superb , terrific , tiptop , cloudless , sunny , unclouded , dusty , pulverous , pulverulent , finespun , dainty , attenuated , belletristic , bolted , capillary , comminuted , excellent , homeopathic , recherch , subtile

noun

amends , amercement , assessment , damages , forfeit , mulct , punishment , reparation , rip , penalty , adornment , amerce , beaux arts , belles lettres , elite , finest , mulet , ne plus ultra , nicety , nonesuch , nonpareil , ornamentation , penalty.--v. mulet , rara avis , regalia

verb

alienate , amerce , confiscate , dock * , exact , extort , hit with , levy , make pay , mulct , pay through the nose , punish , sconce , seize , sequestrate , slap with , tax , throw book at , penalize , absolute , admirable , assessment , beautiful , bonny , bright , capital , choice , clear , consummate , dainty , damages , dandy , delicate , elegant , excellent , exceptional , expensive , forfeit , fragile , frail , good , granular , great , handsome , magnificent , minute , nice , nifty , okay , outstanding , penalty , pleasant , powdery , precise , pulverized , punishment , pure , reparation , sharp , sheer , silky , skillful , slight , splendid , subtle , superior , swell , tender , tenuous , thin