fines
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.amounts of money that you have to pay because you have broken a law or a rule.
n.financial penalties imposed by a court or other authority for a specific offence or breach of regulation.
Simple“The city collected thousands of dollars in parking fines last month.”
In context“The 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.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
n.very small pieces of something, like dust, sand, or crushed stone.
n.minute particles of a material, often produced during industrial processing or found at the bottom of a container.
Simple“The gold miner used a special screen to separate the tiny fines from the larger rocks.”
In context“The 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.
- 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to make someone pay money as a punishment.
v.to impose a financial penalty on someone for an infraction. Transitive — takes a direct object of the person or entity being punished.
Simple“The library fines students if they return their books late.”
In context“The referee fines players who demonstrate unsportsmanlike conduct during the match to maintain professional standards.”
“As with many multas (fines) in Spain, the amount is halved if you pay quickly within 15 days, known as prepago.”
“He said Australia should consider fines of up to $500m to make the companies take it seriously.”