fin

[ fin ]

/ fɪn /

Save This Word!

noun

a membranous, winglike or paddlelike organ attached to any of various parts of the body of fishes and certain other aquatic animals, used for propulsion, steering, or balancing.

Nautical.

a horizontal, often adjustable, winglike appendage to the underwater portion of a hull, as one for controlling the dive of a submarine or for damping the roll of a surface vessel.
fin keel.

Also called vertical stabilizer. Aeronautics. any of certain small, subsidiary structures on an aircraft, designed to increase directional stability.

any of a number of standing ridges on an ordinarily hot object, as a radiator, a cylinder of an internal-combustion engine, etc., intended to maximize heat transfer to the surrounding air by exposing a large surface area.

any part, as of a mechanism, resembling a fin.

Metallurgy. a ridge of metal squeezed through the opening between two rolls, dies, or halves of a mold in which a piece is being formed under pressure.Compare flash (def. 11).

Automotive. an ornamental structure resembling an aeronautical fin that is attached to the body of an automobile, as on each rear fender (tail fin ).

Slang. the arm or hand.

Usually fins. flipper (def. 2).

verb (used with object), finned, fin·ning.

to cut off the fins from (a fish); carve or cut up, as a chub.

to provide or equip with a fin or fins.

verb (used without object), finned, fin·ning.

to move the fins; lash the water with the fins, as a whale when dying.

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of fin

before 1000; Middle English, Old English finn; cognate with Dutch vin,Low German finne; akin to Swedish fena

OTHER WORDS FROM fin

finless, adjectivefinlike, adjective

Words nearby fin

fimbriate, fimbriation, fimbrillate, fimbriocele, fimicolous, fin, finable, finagle, final, final cause, final cut

Definition for fin (2 of 4)

fin²

[ fin ]

/ fɪn /

noun

Slang. a five-dollar bill.

Origin of fin

1865–70; earlier finnip, finnup, fin(n)if(f) a five-pound note <Yiddish fin(e)f five <Middle High German vumf, vimf;see five

Definition for fin (3 of 4)

fin.

abbreviation

finance.

financial.

finish.

Definition for fin (4 of 4)

Fin.

abbreviation

Finland.

Finnish.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for fin

It has silvery blue skin and a red dorsal fin that runs the length of its body.
Fishy Mystery: Are Beached Oarfish Trying to Tell Us Something?|Kevin Bailey|October 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“The annoying thing about life is that it screws up the production,” Fin muses.
This Week’s Hot Reads: Jan. 7, 2013|Mythili Rao|January 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He carried with him the insecurities, foibles, and morose visions of fin de siècle Europe.
How Sherlock Holmes Took on the Capitalists|Ian Klaus|December 21, 2011|DAILY BEAST
“Beside me the young Brit was snoring softly now, his glasses askew on his fin-shaped nose,” Obama wrote.
America's New Frenemy|Lloyd Grove|July 19, 2010|DAILY BEAST

They looked up from their cucumber sandwiches and saw, 25 yards off, an enormous fin slicing the water.
Remembering the Man Who Brought Jaws—and Me—to the Shelves|Christopher Buckley|December 23, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Mais on peut bien appeller vn voyage heureux, quand en fin on arrive bon port.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
En fin il parvint Dieppe, & apres quelque sejour il se mit en mer le 26.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Bref ilz remboursent lesditz Marchs de chac deux milles livres, 176 & se mettent en fin la voile le 26.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
He got powerful mad kaze he couldn' fin' nothin', den he look out de window an' seed Mis' Laura.
Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States|Various
They're like whisky, gran' at the time, but you sing sorry next day, an' fin' oot what a fool you hae been.
The Underworld|James C. Welsh

British Dictionary definitions for fin (1 of 5)

fin¹

/ (fɪn) /

noun

any of the firm appendages that are the organs of locomotion and balance in fishes and some other aquatic animals. Most fishes have paired and unpaired fins, the former corresponding to the limbs of higher vertebrates

a part or appendage that resembles a fin

British a vertical surface to which the rudder is attached, usually placed at the rear of an aeroplane to give stability about the vertical axisUS name: vertical stabilizer
a tail surface fixed to a rocket or missile to give stability

nautical a fixed or adjustable blade projecting under water from the hull of a vessel to give it stability or control

a projecting rib to dissipate heat from the surface of an engine cylinder, motor casing, or radiator

(often plural) another name for flipper (def. 2)

verb fins, finning or finned

(tr) to provide with fins

(tr) to remove the fins from (a dead fish)

(intr) (esp of a whale) to agitate the fins violently in the water

Derived forms of fin

finless, adjective

Word Origin for fin

Old English finn; related to Middle Dutch vinne, Old Swedish fina, Latin pinna wing

British Dictionary definitions for fin (2 of 5)

fin²

/ (fɪn) /

noun

US slang a five-dollar bill

Word Origin for fin

from Yiddish finf five, ultimately from Old High German funf, finf

British Dictionary definitions for fin (3 of 5)

Fin

abbreviation for

Finland

Finnish

British Dictionary definitions for fin (4 of 5)

FIN

abbreviation for

Finland (international car registration)

British Dictionary definitions for fin (5 of 5)

fin.

abbreviation for

finance

financial

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for fin

fin

[ fĭn ]

One of the winglike or paddlelike parts of a fish, dolphin, or whale that are used for propelling, steering, and balancing in water.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

fin

noun

verb (used with object), finned, fin·ning.

verb (used without object), finned, fin·ning.

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of fin

OTHER WORDS FROM fin

Words nearby fin

Definition for fin (2 of 4)

noun

Origin of fin

Definition for fin (3 of 4)

abbreviation

Definition for fin (4 of 4)

abbreviation

Example sentences from the Web for fin

British Dictionary definitions for fin (1 of 5)

noun

verb fins, finning or finned

Derived forms of fin

Word Origin for fin

British Dictionary definitions for fin (2 of 5)

noun

Word Origin for fin

British Dictionary definitions for fin (3 of 5)

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for fin (4 of 5)

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for fin (5 of 5)

abbreviation for

Scientific definitions for fin

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

fin

noun

verb (used with object), finned, fin·ning.

verb (used without object), finned, fin·ning.

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of fin

OTHER WORDS FROM fin

Words nearby fin

Definition for fin (2 of 4)

noun

Origin of fin

Definition for fin (3 of 4)

abbreviation

Definition for fin (4 of 4)

abbreviation

Content related to fin

Words related to fin

Example sentences from the Web for fin

British Dictionary definitions for fin (1 of 5)

noun

verb fins, finning or finned

Derived forms of fin

Word Origin for fin

British Dictionary definitions for fin (2 of 5)

noun

Word Origin for fin

British Dictionary definitions for fin (3 of 5)

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for fin (4 of 5)

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for fin (5 of 5)

abbreviation for

Scientific definitions for fin