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.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of fin

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English finn; cognate with Dutch vin, Low German finne; akin to Swedish fena; probably akin to Latin pinna; see also pen¹

OTHER WORDS FROM fin

finless, adjectivefinlike, adjective

Words nearby fin

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

Other definitions for fin (2 of 4)

fin²

[ fin ]

/ fɪn /

noun

Slang. a five-dollar bill.

Origin of fin

First recorded in 1865–70; earlier finnip, finnup, fin(n)if “a five-pound note,” from Yiddish fin(e)f “five,” from Middle High German vumf, vimf; see origin at five

Other definitions for fin (3 of 4)

fin.

abbreviation

finance.

financial.

finish.

Other definitions for fin (4 of 4)

Fin.

abbreviation

Finland.

Finnish.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fin in a sentence

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
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
Then spake the Earl to that man whose name 118 some say was Fin, but as others have it was of Finnish kith and kin.
The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald The Tyrant (Harald Haardraade)|Snorri Sturluson

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.

fin

Origin of fin

OTHER WORDS FROM fin

Words nearby fin

Other definitions for fin (2 of 4)

Origin of fin

Other definitions for fin (3 of 4)

Other definitions for fin (4 of 4)

Words related to fin

How to use fin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fin (1 of 5)

Derived forms of fin

Word Origin for fin

British Dictionary definitions for fin (2 of 5)

Word Origin for fin

British Dictionary definitions for fin (3 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for fin (4 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for fin (5 of 5)

Scientific definitions for fin