fin
/fin/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A thin, flat projecting part on a fish or aquatic animal: A "fin" is primarily the organ that fish and some other aquatic animals use for movement, steering, and balance in water.
- A similar stabilizing part on a vehicle or object: A "fin" can also refer to a fixed or adjustable surface on an aircraft, rocket, or ship that provides stability.
- A vertical projection on a car: In automotive design, a "fin" is a stylistic, often decorative, vertical projection on the rear fender, popular in mid-20th-century cars.
- A flipper for swimming: A "fin" is a flat rubber or plastic shoe worn on the foot to aid in swimming, especially underwater.
- A thin slat: A "fin" can be one of a set of thin, parallel plates, as in a radiator or a louvered door, designed to allow air flow.
Verb:
- To show fins above water: To "fin" means for a fish or aquatic animal to show its fins above the surface of the water while swimming.
- To swim using fins: To "fin" means to propel oneself through water using a motion similar to that of a fish's fin or by wearing swim fins.
- To equip with fins: To "fin" means to add fins to something, such as a car.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The shark's dorsal fin cut through the water. (The shark's back fin was visible above the water.)
- The airplane's vertical fin helps keep it stable in flight.
- He put on his fins before diving into the pool.
- The classic car had large tail fins.
- Heat dissipates through the fins of the computer's cooling system.
Verb:
- We could see the dolphins finning near the boat. (We could see the dolphins showing their fins near the boat.)
- She finned gently through the coral reef. (She swam using a finning motion through the coral reef.)
- The customizer decided to fin the old sedan. (The customizer decided to add fins to the old sedan.)
Advanced Usage
- "To fin" (in finance slang, historical): Informally, a five-dollar bill (from Yiddish meaning "five").
- It cost me a fin to get in. (It cost me five dollars to get in.)
Variants and Related Words
- Finny (adj): Having fins; resembling a fin.
- The finny creatures of the deep.
- Finned (adj): Equipped with fins.
- A finned heat sink.
- Dorsal fin (n): The fin located on the back of a fish or marine mammal.
- Pectoral fin (n): Either of a pair of fins located on the sides, behind the head.
- Caudal fin (n): The tail fin.
Synonyms
- Fluke: The flat, triangular part of a whale's tail (a specific type of fin).
- Flipper: A broad, flat limb adapted for swimming (e.g., on seals, turtles); also a synonym for a swim fin.
- Stabilizer: A device used to maintain stability (shares the functional meaning in vehicles).
- Vane: A flat surface that catches wind or water (similar in shape/function).
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases
- Fin out: (Rare/technical) To equip or extend with fins.
- They decided to fin out the prototype for better hydrodynamics.
Related Idioms
- To be in fine fin: (Playful/rare) To be in excellent condition or health, playing on the word "fine" and a fish's healthy fin.
- After a good rest, I'm in fine fin again.
Noun
- organ of locomotion and balance in fishes and some other aquatic animals
- a stabilizer on a ship that resembles the fin of a fish
- a shoe for swimming; the paddle-like front is an aid in swimming (especially underwater)
- one of a set of parallel slats in a door or window to admit air and reject rain
- one of a pair of decorations projecting above the rear fenders of an automobile
- the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
Verb
- show the fins above the water while swimming
- The sharks were finning near the surface
- propel oneself through the water in a finning motion
- equip (a car) with fins