fin
gb/fˈɪn/ us/fˈɪn/
B1
English
~ 9100
uszony, vezérsík, stabilizátor, hűtőborda, hűtőlamella, békaláb, ötdolláros, ötös, Vége, Fin, levágja az uszonyait, uszonyokkal felszerel, stabilizátorokkal ellát
NOUN
B1
1
uszony
B1
Usage pattern:
the [type] fin of [an animal]
The shark's fin suddenly appeared above the waves.
A cápa uszonya hirtelen felbukkant a hullámok felett.
A dolphin's dorsal fin is easy to spot from the boat.
A delfin hátúszóját könnyű észrevenni a hajóról.
The fish moved its tail fin quickly to escape the net.
The turtle's front fins pushed its body smoothly through the water.
Learner examples
We saw a shark's fin near the beach.
Egy cápa uszonyát láttuk a part közelében.
The whale lifted its tail fin out of the water.
A bálna kiemelte farokúszóját a vízből.
The fish moves its fins when it swims.
A dolphin has a tall fin on its back.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'wing' instead of 'fin' when describing fish or sea animals. Use 'wing' for birds and airplanes, and 'fin' for fish and similar water animals.
Meaning
thin limb on a fish
Collocations
dorsal fin
|shark fin
|whale's fin
|tail fin
|fin breaks the surface
|fin slices through the water
Synonyms
flipper (Usually used for the wide swimming limbs of marine mammals like seals or dolphins, not for fish.)
Themes
animals
|nature
|science
|body
Definition
A thin, flat part of a fish or sea animal that sticks out from the body and helps it move or stay steady in water.
A thin, flat body part on a fish or other water animal that helps it to swim, steer, or keep its balance.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a fin on [a vehicle/board/device]
The plane's tail fin was damaged during the storm.
A repülőgép függőleges vezérsíkja megsérült a viharban.
He adjusted the center fin on his surfboard for better control.
A jobb irányíthatóság érdekében beállította a szörfdeszka középső uszonyát.
The rocket's fins keep it flying in a straight line.
A small plastic fin under the paddleboard helps it track forward instead of sliding sideways.
Learner examples
The airplane has a big fin at the back.
A repülőgép hátulján egy nagy függőleges vezérsík van.
There is a fin under the surfboard.
A szörfdeszka alján van egy uszony.
The rocket uses its fins to stay straight.
He broke the fin on his board and had to fix it.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes call the tail fin of a plane a 'tail wing'. In aviation, the correct common term is 'tail fin' or 'vertical stabilizer', not 'tail wing'.
Meaning
flat stabilizing part on object
Collocations
aircraft tail fin
|rocket fin
|surfboard fin
|stabilizing fin
|vertical fin
|remove the fin
Synonyms
stabilizer (More general technical term; does not specifically suggest a thin, fin-like shape.)
Themes
technology
|transport
|sports
|transportation
Definition
A thin, flat piece sticking out from a plane, rocket, surfboard, or similar thing that helps it stay steady or go in the right direction.
A thin, flat, projecting part attached to a vehicle, board, or device, used to keep it stable or help control its direction in air or water.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
hűtőborda
B2
hűtőlamella
C1
Usage pattern:
a fin on [a radiator/heat sink]
Dust between the cooling fins can cause the computer to overheat.
A hűtőbordák között felgyűlő por miatt a számítógép túlmelegedhet.
The mechanic carefully straightened the bent fins on the radiator.
A szerelő óvatosan kiegyenesítette a hűtőradiátor elgörbült lamelláit.
Aluminum fins on the engine block help to release heat quickly.
These heat sink fins are designed to maximize air flow.
Learner examples
The fan blows air over the fins to cool the part.
A ventilátor levegőt fúj a hűtőbordákra, hogy lehűtse az alkatrészt.
Dust on the fins can make the machine too hot.
A hűtőbordákon lévő por miatt a gép túlmelegedhet.
The metal fins help the computer stay cool.
He cleaned the small fins on the radiator.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize this meaning and may think of fish fins instead. In technical texts about engines, computers, or cooling, 'fin' usually refers to metal pieces for heat control, not animals.
Meaning
thin cooling projection on device
Collocations
cooling fins
|radiator fins
|heat sink fins
|bent fins
|clean the fins
|finned cylinder head
Synonyms
heat sink fin (More specific term used mainly for electronic components.)
Themes
technology
|science
|engineering
Definition
A thin, flat piece that sticks out from a machine or electronic part to help carry heat away and keep it cool.
One of many thin, flat pieces projecting from a radiator, engine part, or electronic heat sink, designed to increase surface area and improve cooling.
B2
4
Usage pattern:
wear fins on [one's] feet
The instructor told us to put on our fins before entering the water.
Az oktató azt mondta, hogy a vízbe lépés előtt vegyük fel az uszonyainkat.
Wearing fins, she was able to keep up with the group easily.
Békalábbal könnyedén lépést tudott tartani a csoporttal.
He bought a new pair of diving fins for his trip to the reef.
Swim fins can help beginners learn the correct leg movement.
Learner examples
I wear fins when I go snorkeling.
Sznorkelezéskor békalábat veszek fel.
She swims faster with fins on her feet.
Gyorsabban úszik, ha békaláb van a lábán.
He bought new fins for his diving class.
Take off your fins before you walk on the boat.
Common mistake:
Learners often only know the word 'flippers' for this equipment. 'Fins' is also common, especially in American English and in diving shops.
Meaning
fin-shaped gear for swimming
Collocations
put on fins
|take off your fins
|swim with fins
|diving fins
|snorkeling fins
|a pair of fins
Synonyms
flippers (The most common everyday term; slightly more informal and more frequent than 'fins' in this sense.)
Themes
sports
|daily life
|travel
Definition
A long, flat thing you put on your feet when you swim or dive so you can move faster and easier in the water.
A fin-shaped piece of equipment worn on the feet by swimmers or divers to make it easier to move through the water.
NOUN
C1
SLANG
5
ötdolláros
B1
ötös
B1
Usage pattern:
a fin for [amount/price]
He slipped the waiter a fin to get a better table.
Odacsúsztatott a pincérnek egy ötöst, hogy jobb asztalt kapjon.
I've only got a fin left in my wallet.
Már csak egy ötdolláros maradt a pénztárcámban.
Back then, a fin would cover dinner and a movie.
She offered him a fin for helping carry the boxes.
Learner examples
He gave the taxi driver a fin.
Adott a taxisofőrnek egy ötdollárost.
I only have one fin in my pocket.
Csak egy ötdolláros van a zsebemben.
A fin was a lot of money many years ago.
She paid a fin for the ticket.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'fin' here means a fish body part. In money talk in old-fashioned or movie dialogue, 'a fin' can mean five dollars.
Meaning
slang for a five-dollar bill
Collocations
drop a fin
|slip him a fin
|lend you a fin
|worth a fin
|only a fin
|put down a fin
Synonyms
five (Very common clipped form for 'five-dollar bill'; slightly less dated than 'fin'.)
Antonyms
C-note (A U.S. slang term for a one-hundred-dollar bill; opposite in the sense of much larger value.)
Themes
money
|slang
|daily life
|finance
|daily_life
Definition
An informal U.S. word that means a five-dollar bill.
U.S. slang for a five-dollar banknote.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
6
Usage pattern:
the word 'Fin' appears at the end of [a film/story]
The old black-and-white movie ended with the single word 'Fin' filling the screen.
A régi fekete-fehér film úgy ért véget, hogy a képernyőt betöltötte az egyetlen szó: „Fin”.
As the camera pulled back, the word 'Fin' appeared over the last shot.
Ahogy a kamera távolodott, az utolsó képen megjelent a „Fin” felirat.
The director chose to close the film with a classic 'Fin' title card instead of 'The End'.
The short film cuts abruptly to black, then the word 'Fin' flickers into view.
Learner examples
At the end of the film, the word 'Fin' appears.
A film végén megjelenik a „Fin” felirat.
The old movie does not say 'The End'; it says 'Fin'.
A régi film végén nem az van kiírva, hogy „The End”, hanem az, hogy „Fin”.
The last image on the screen is the word 'Fin'.
Some films show the word 'Fin' when the story ends.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'fin' in this use is a normal English word. It is actually borrowed from French and is mostly seen in stylistic or old-fashioned film endings.
Meaning
the word shown to mark film end
Collocations
the screen reads 'Fin'
|a single word: Fin
|film ends with 'Fin'
|the final frame shows 'Fin'
|credits roll after 'Fin'
|a classic 'Fin' title card
Synonyms
the end (Plain English phrase used in the same position; does not carry the foreign or old-movie flavor of 'Fin'.)
Themes
media
|arts
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Definition
The word 'Fin' that appears on the screen at the end of some movies to mean 'The End'.
The word 'Fin' shown at the end of a film, especially in older or foreign movies, to indicate that the story is finished.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
7
Usage pattern:
to fin [a fish/shark]
Many countries have banned the practice of finning sharks at sea.
Sok ország betiltotta, hogy a tengeren levágják a cápák uszonyait.
The crew was arrested after they were caught finning live sharks and dumping them overboard.
A legénységet letartóztatták, miután rajtakapták őket azon, hogy élő cápákról vágják le az uszonyokat, majd az állatokat a tengerbe dobják.
Some fishing boats still secretly fin sharks to supply the luxury food market.
Activists released footage of workers finning hundreds of sharks on the deck.
Learner examples
They fin the sharks and throw the bodies back into the sea.
Levágják a cápák uszonyait, a testüket pedig visszadobják a tengerbe.
Some people fin fish to sell the fins as food.
Vannak, akik azért vágják le a halak uszonyait, hogy az uszonyokat élelmiszerként eladják.
Many people think it is wrong to fin live sharks.
The company says it does not fin sharks anymore.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that 'fin' can be a verb. In environmental articles, 'to fin sharks' always means cutting off their fins, not putting fins on them.
Meaning
remove the fins from fish
Collocations
fin live sharks
|illegally fin sharks
|caught finning sharks
|fin the fish
|shark-finning practices
|hauled in and finned
Synonyms
de-fin (Less common and more technical; formed with a prefix to mean remove fins.)
Themes
animals
|environment
|food
|nature
Definition
To cut off the fins of a fish or shark.
To cut the fins off a fish, especially a shark, often before discarding the rest of the body.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
8
Usage pattern:
to fin [a board/vehicle/device]
Modern surfboards are usually factory-finned and ready to ride.
A modern szörfdeszkákat általában már gyárilag uszonyokkal szerelik fel, és azonnal használhatók.
The engineer plans to fin the prototype missile differently to improve stability.
A mérnök azt tervezi, hogy a prototípus rakétát másféle stabilizátorokkal látja el, hogy javítsa a stabilitását.
You need to fin the board correctly or it will slide out in the turn.
They redesigned and re-finned the rockets after the failed test.
Learner examples
The company fins the boards before they send them to shops.
A cég uszonyokkal szereli fel a deszkákat, mielőtt elküldi őket az üzletekbe.
He will fin his new surfboard this weekend.
A hétvégén uszonyokat szerel az új szörfdeszkájára.
Engineers fin the rocket so it can fly straight.
If you fin the board wrong, it is hard to control.
Common mistake:
This verb sense is rare and mostly used in technical or specialist contexts like surfing or engineering. Learners should be aware that in most cases 'fin' is a noun, not a verb.
Meaning
equip something with fins
Collocations
finned surfboard
|properly finned board
|finned missile
|to fin the board
|factory-finned
|fin the prototype
Synonyms
equip (General verb meaning to provide with equipment; does not specify fins.)
Themes
sports
|technology
|transportation
Definition
To put fins onto a surfboard, boat part, or other object to help it move or stay steady.
To attach or provide fins to a board, vehicle, or device, especially for stability or control.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fin
IPA
GB/fˈɪn/
US/fˈɪn/
Syllables & stress
fin (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fin)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fin
- Plural: fins
Verb
- Base: fin
- 3rd Person Singular: fins
- Present Participle: finning
- Past: finned
Word family
Forms
fins
noun
finning
verb
finned
verb
Related words
finfish
noun
Negative and opposite forms
finless
adjective
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: finning Verb
- Irregular past: finned Verb
Expressions
dorsal fin
1/dˈɔɹsəl fˈɪn/
fixed phrase
back fin of fish or sea animal
The fin on the back of a fish or sea animal.
Examples
- We could see the dolphin's dorsal fin cutting through the surface of the water.
- The shark's tall dorsal fin made everyone on the beach nervous.
- Marine biologists can sometimes identify individual whales by the shape of their dorsal fins.
swim fins
1/swˈɪm fˈɪnz/
fixed phrase
fins worn on feet for swimming
Long, flat pieces you wear on your feet to help you swim or dive more easily.
Examples
- The instructor told the beginners to put on their swim fins before entering the pool.
- Swim fins can help you build leg strength while you practice kicking.
- He packed his mask, snorkel, and swim fins for the trip to the islands.
tail fin
1/tˈeɪl fˈɪn/
fixed phrase
technical
rear stabilizing fin on aircraft
The tall, thin fin at the back of an airplane that helps keep it steady and straight.
Examples
- The airline's logo is painted on the tail fin of each plane.
- Strong winds damaged the tail fin, so the aircraft had to stay on the ground.
- Engineers redesigned the tail fin to improve the jet's handling in crosswinds.
shark fin soup
1/ʃˈɑɹk fˈɪn sˈup/
fixed phrase
soup made with shark fins
A traditional soup, especially in some Asian countries, made with the fins of sharks.
Examples
- Many restaurants have stopped serving shark fin soup because of concerns about the environment.
- Many countries have banned shark fin soup to protect shark populations.
- He tasted shark fin soup for the first time on his trip to Hong Kong.
- They chose not to serve shark fin soup at the wedding for environmental reasons.
- Campaigns are encouraging people to avoid shark fin soup to protect shark populations.
- The restaurant removed shark fin soup from its menu after public protests.