fin

[ fin ]

/ fɪn /

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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.

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Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

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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

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

Studying fish fins could also lead to new designs for robots that swim and sense underwater and that can explore areas that would otherwise be difficult for people to reach.
A fish’s fins may be as sensitive to touch as fingertips|Carolyn Wilke|November 3, 2020|Science News
The fins of round gobies can detect textures with a sensitivity similar to that of the pads on monkeys’ fingers, researchers report November 3 in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
A fish’s fins may be as sensitive to touch as fingertips|Carolyn Wilke|November 3, 2020|Science News
The trail culminates with Marys Rock, a 3,514-foot mountain with large granite fins jutting out from the peak that offers long-range views of Shenandoah Valley.
The Ultimate Shenandoah National Park Travel Guide|Graham Averill|October 7, 2020|Outside Online
Today, blue whales and other endangered species, like fin and humpbacks, are recovering, but slowly.
Whale ‘roadkill’ is on the rise off California. A new detection system could help.|Erik Olsen|September 29, 2020|Popular Science

An internal shock cord allows it to fold in half like a tent pole and also supports a polymer fin that pivots around the monopod and slides up and down its upper half.
Get More from Your Binoculars with This $100 Stick|Wes Siler|September 19, 2020|Outside Online

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.

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fin

noun

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

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

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Origin of fin

OTHER WORDS FROM 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.

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Origin of fin

OTHER WORDS FROM 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

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