fin
Pronunciation: (fin), [key]
— n., v., finned, fin•ning.
—n.
- 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.
-
- 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.
- Seefin keel.
- Also calledany 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.
- 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. Cf. flash (def. 11).
- an ornamental structure resembling an aeronautical fin that is attached to the body of an automobile, as on each rear fender
- the arm or hand.
- Usually,flipper (def. 2).
—v.t.
- to cut off the fins from (a fish); carve or cut up, as a chub.
- to provide or equip with a fin or fins.
—v.i.
- to move the fins; lash the water with the fins, as a whale when dying.
fin
Pronunciation: (fin), [key]
— n.
- a five-dollar bill.
Fin.
- Finland.
- Finnish.
fin.
- finance.
- financial.
- finish.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.