fin

¹

[fin]

noun

1. 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.

2. Nautical.

   1. 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.

   2. fin keel.

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

4. 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.

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

6. 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.

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

8. Slang.,  the arm or hand.

9. Usually fins. flipper.

verb (used with object)

finned, finning 

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

2. to provide or equip with a fin or fins.

verb (used without object)

finned, finning 

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

fin

²

[fin]

noun

1. Slang.,  a five-dollar bill.

fin.

³

abbreviation

1. finance.

2. financial.

3. finish.

Fin.

⁴

abbreviation

1. Finland.

2. Finnish.

fin

¹

/ fɪn /

noun

1. 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

2. a part or appendage that resembles a fin

3. 1. US name: vertical stabilizer. a vertical surface to which the rudder is attached, usually placed at the rear of an aeroplane to give stability about the vertical axis

   2. a tail surface fixed to a rocket or missile to give stability

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

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

6. (often plural) another name for flipper

verb

1. (tr) to provide with fins

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

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

fin

²

/ fɪn /

noun

1. slang,  a five-dollar bill

Fin

³

abbreviation

1. Finland

2. Finnish

fin.

⁴

abbreviation

1. finance

2. financial

FIN

⁵

abbreviation

1. Finland (international car registration)

fin

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

Other Word Forms

• finless adjective
• finlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fin¹

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 ( def. ); pen ¹ ( def. )

Origin of fin²

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; five

Word History and Origins

Origin of fin¹

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

Origin of fin²

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

Example Sentences

"You can just see loads of white water, and then tuna fins and tuna jumping out."

From BBC

Meanwhile, Michael Giacchino’s score soars between bleats of triumph and barbershop-chorus charm, a combination that can sound like an automobile show unveiling the first convertible with tail fins.

From Los Angeles Times

The action sets sail with a hefty oceanic sequence where Edwards leans on his expertise in sluicing fins and underwater ka-thumps.

From Los Angeles Times

But the parasites can infect the muscles and connective tissue of the fish, Hechinger said, which is how a person eating it can get sick despite cutting off the head and fins.

From Los Angeles Times

“Even if you struggle with the technique of swimming, you can put on fins and get some at least moderate exercise.”

From Los Angeles Times