1
: exquisite perfection or elaborateness of form, texture, or construction : superior qualitythis material surpasses all others in fineness
2
b
: the proportion of pure silver or gold in jewelry, bullion , or coins often expressed in parts per thousand and being in U.S. silver coin ⁹/₁₀ or .900 fine and in English gold coin ¹¹/₁₂ or .9166 fine karat
3
a (1)
: brave or striking appearance : elegance delicacy he was struck by the ease, the poise, the fineness of every motion —
the fineness , the perfection, the chiseled quality of her features
(2)
: sensitivity or delicacy of touch or manipulationthe pianist's notable fineness of rendition
the fineness of the surgeon's technique
b
: subtlety sensitivity acuity not in the name of some high-flown fineness of feeling but in the name of simple social practicality —
this does not mean that there is no fineness of discrimination in his handling of its themes —
4
: the condition or degree of slenderness, thinness, or sharpnessthe fineness of a knife's edge determines its cutting power
5
a
: the condition of being finely divided : the condition of being finely composed (as of particles, threads, or fibers)marveled at the fineness of the sand
b
: the extent of subdivision of a substance as indicated under prescribed conditions (as of cement, sand, gravel, or pigments)
c
: the relative width, diameter, linear density, or weight per unit length (as of fibers or yarns) expressed in a number of units
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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