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.
a.
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.
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. Compare flash(def. 11).
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).
To lash the water with the fins. Used of a dying whale.
[Middle English, from Old English finn.]
fin 2 (fĭn) n.
Slang A five-dollar bill.
[Yiddish finf, five, from Old High German funf, finf; see penkwe in Indo-European roots.]
flip·per (flĭp'ər) n.
A wide flat limb, as of a seal, whale, or other aquatic mammal, adapted for swimming.
A rubber covering for the foot having a flat flexible portion that widens as it extends forward from the toes, used in swimming and diving. Also called fin1.
A flat lever in a pinball machine, used to hit the ball so it stays in play.
tail fin also tail·fin (tāl'fĭn') n.
A fin at the posterior part of the body of a fish, crustacean, whale, or other aquatic animal.
An ornamental projection shaped like a fin on the rear fender of an automobile. Also called fin1.
A trader who attempts to make a small profit by very quick in-and-out buying and selling. For example, a flipper might try to take advantage of a hot market for new issues by purchasing a new issue at the offering and then selling it on the first day of trading.
fin (fĭn) Pronunciation Key
One of the winglike or paddlelike parts of a fish, dolphin, or whale that are used for propelling, steering, and balancing in water.
flipper (flĭp'ər) Pronunciation Key
A wide, flat limb adapted for swimming, found on aquatic animals such as whales, seals, and sea turtles. Flippers evolved from legs.