fines
n. · v.-
1 money paid as punishment (n.) B1 Intermediate Lawamounts of money that you have to pay because you have broken a law or a rule.
financial penalties imposed by a court or other authority for a specific offence or breach of regulation.
ExampleThe city collected thousands of dollars in parking fines last month.
ExampleThe regulatory body imposed heavy fines on the corporation after discovering systematic violations of environmental safety protocols.
UsageUsually used in the plural when referring to a general collection of penalties.
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2 small particles (n.) C2 Proficiency Technical Sciencevery small pieces of something, like dust, sand, or crushed stone.
minute particles of a material, often produced during industrial processing or found at the bottom of a container.
ExampleThe gold miner used a special screen to separate the tiny fines from the larger rocks.
ExampleThe presence of excessive coal fines in the air posed a significant respiratory risk to the workers in the processing plant.
UsageAlmost exclusively used in the plural in industrial or geological contexts.
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3 to charge money for a rule break (v.) B1 Intermediate Lawto make someone pay money as a punishment.
to impose a financial penalty on someone for an infraction. Transitive — takes a direct object of the person or entity being punished.
ExampleThe library fines students if they return their books late.
ExampleThe referee fines players who demonstrate unsportsmanlike conduct during the match to maintain professional standards.