finer

Pluralfiners

1. 1
   adjective

   Comparative of fine.

   The new blade left a finer edge after sharpening.

   Sift the mixture through a finer screen to catch the smaller bits.

   Note

   An inflected comparative: fine takes -er and -est rather than more and most. It compares whichever sense of fine is meant, such as finer quality, a finer distinction or finer features, so the noun it modifies tells you which one is in play. The same spelling also names a person who refines metal. That noun has a plural, finers, which the adjective never takes.

2. 2
   nouncountable

   A person who purifies or refines a material, removing unwanted matter to improve its quality.

   The finer skimmed impurities from the surface of the molten metal.

   Several finers worked the forge, purifying iron before it reached the smiths.

   Similarrefiner, purifier

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