fix

[ fiks ]

verb (used with object)

, fixed or (Archaic) fixt [fikst], fix·ing.

1. to repair; mend.

   Synonyms: amend, correct

2. to put in order or in good condition; adjust or arrange:

   She fixed her hair in a bun.

3. to make fast, firm, or stable.

   Synonyms: stabilize, secure, fasten

4. to place definitely and more or less permanently:

   to fix a circus poster to a wall.

   Synonyms: stabilize, secure, fasten

5. to settle definitely; determine:

   to fix a price.

   Synonyms: define, establish

6. to direct (the eyes, the attention, etc.) steadily:

   His eyes were fixed on the distant ship.

7. to attract and hold (the eye, the attention, etc.).
8. to make set or rigid.
9. to put into permanent form.
10. to put or place (responsibility, blame, etc.) on a person.
11. to assign or refer to a definite place, time, etc.
12. to provide or supply with (something needed or wanted):

    How are you fixed for money?

13. Informal. to arrange or influence the outcome or action of, especially privately or dishonestly:

    to fix a jury; to fix a game.

14. to get (a meal); prepare (food):

    What time shall I fix supper?

15. Informal. to put in a condition or position to make no further trouble.
16. Informal. to get even with; get revenge upon:

    I'll fix him!

17. Informal. to castrate or spay (an animal, especially a pet).
18. Chemistry.
    1. to make stable in consistency or condition; reduce from fluidity or volatility to a more stable state.
    2. to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a useful compound, as a nitrate fertilizer.
19. Photography. to render (an image) permanent by removing light-sensitive silver halides.
20. Microscopy. to kill, make rigid, and preserve for microscopic study.

verb (used without object)

, fixed or fixt, fix·ing.

1. to become fixed.
2. to become set; assume a rigid or solid form.
3. to become stable or permanent.
4. to settle down.
5. Slang. to inject oneself with a narcotic.
6. Chiefly Southern U.S. to prepare; plan (usually followed by an infinitive):

   I was just fixing to call you. We're fixing to go to Colorado this summer.

noun

1. Informal. a position from which it is difficult to escape; predicament.

   Synonyms: quandary, plight, dilemma

2. Informal. a repair, adjustment, or solution, usually of an immediate nature:

   Can you think of a fix for the problem?

3. Navigation.
   1. a charted position of a vessel or aircraft, determined by two or more bearings taken on landmarks, heavenly bod-ies, etc.
   2. the determining of the position of a ship, plane, etc., by mathematical, electronic, or other means:

      The navigator took a fix on the sun and steered the ship due north.

4. a clear determination:

   Can you get a fix on what he really means?

5. Slang.
   1. an injection of heroin or other narcotic.
   2. the narcotic or amount of narcotic injected.
   3. a compulsively sought dose or infusion of something:

      to need one's daily fix of soap operas on TV.

6. Slang.
   1. an underhand or illegal arrangement, especially one secured through bribery or influence.
   2. a contest, situation, etc., whose outcome is prearranged dishonestly.

verb phrase

1. to decide on; determine:

   We won't be able to fix on a location for the banquet until we know the number of guests.

2. Informal.
   1. to arrange for:

      to fix up a date.

   2. to provide with; furnish.
   3. to repair; renew.
   4. to smooth over; solve:

      They weren't able to fix up their differences.

fix

/ fɪks /

verb

1. also intr to make or become firm, stable, or secure
2. to attach or place permanently

   fix the mirror to the wall

3. often foll by up to settle definitely; decide

   let us fix a date

4. to hold or direct (eyes, attention, etc) steadily

   he fixed his gaze on the woman

5. to call to attention or rivet
6. to make rigid

   to fix one's jaw

7. to place or ascribe

   to fix the blame on someone

8. to mend or repair
9. informal.
   to provide with

   how are you fixed for supplies?

10. informal.
    to influence (a person, outcome of a contest, etc) unfairly, as by bribery
11. slang.
    to take revenge on; get even with, esp by killing
12. informal.
    to give (someone) his just deserts

    that'll fix him

13. informal.
    to arrange or put in order

    to fix one's hair

14. informal.
    to prepare

    to fix a meal

15. dialect.
    to spay or castrate (an animal)
16. dialect.
    to prepare oneself

    I'm fixing to go out

17. photog to treat (a film, plate, or paper) with fixer to make permanent the image rendered visible by developer
18. cytology to kill, preserve, and harden (tissue, cells, etc) for subsequent microscopic study
19. 1. to convert (atmospheric nitrogen) into nitrogen compounds, as in the manufacture of fertilizers or the action of bacteria in the soil
    2. to convert (carbon dioxide) into organic compounds, esp carbohydrates, as occurs in photosynthesis in plants and some microorganisms
20. to reduce (a substance) to a solid or condensed state or a less volatile state
21. slang.
    intr to inject a drug

noun

1. informal.
   a predicament; dilemma
2. the ascertaining of the navigational position, as of a ship, by radar, observation, etc
3. slang.
   an intravenous injection of a drug, esp heroin
4. informal.
   an act or instance of bribery

fix

/ fĭks /

1. To convert inorganic carbon or nitrogen into stable, organic compounds that can be assimilated into organisms. Photosynthetic organisms such as green plants fix carbon in carbohydrates as food; certain bacteria fix nitrogen as ammonia that can be absorbed directly or through nitrification by plant roots.
2. See more at carbon fixation
3. To convert a substance, especially a gas, into solid or liquid form by chemical reactions.
4. To kill and preserve a tissue specimen rapidly to retain as nearly as possible the characteristics it had in the living body.

Usage Note

Fix meaning “to repair” appears to have been used first in America, but it is long established and has been used in England since the early 19th century: The engineer quickly fixed the faulty valve. The verb use is fully standard in all varieties of speech and writing, and objections to it on the grounds of style merely reflect personal prejudice, not the practice of educated speakers and writers. The noun fix meaning “repair, adjustment” is informal. Fix ( to ) meaning “to prepare, plan (to)” is another Americanism: We're fixing to go to town. It once occurred in all the eastern coastal states, but it is now chiefly an informal spoken form in the South Midland and South.

Derived Forms

• ˈfixable, adjective

Other Words From

• fixa·ble adjective
• fixa·bili·ty noun
• over·fix verb
• re·fix verb (used with object) refixed refixing
• un·fixa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fix¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English fixen, from Middle French fixer or Medieval Latin fixāre, derivative of Latin fixus “fixed,” past participle of fīgere “to fasten”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fix¹

C15: from Medieval Latin fixāre , from Latin fixus fixed, from Latin fīgere

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. fix one's wagon, Informal. to exact retribution for an offense; treat someone vengefully:

   I'll dock his pay and that will fix his wagon.

2. in a fix, Older Slang. pregnant.

More idioms and phrases containing fix

• get a fix
• get a fix on
• if it ain't broke don't fix it
• in a fix

Synonym Study

Fix, establish imply making firm or permanent. To fix is to fasten in position securely or to make more or less permanent against change, especially something already existing: to fix a bayonet on a gun; fix a principle in one's mind. To establish is to make firm or permanent something (usually newly) originated, created, or ordained: to establish a business, a claim to property.

Example Sentences

Mr Bailey will also echo Reeves' concern that the UK pension system is "fragmented" and requires "heavy lifting" to fix it.

From BBC

Tanton admired Taylor’s 1992 book about the failure of affirmative action to fix race relations.

From Salon

New figures show that more than £500m has been spent on trying to fix Northern Ireland’s roads during the last five years.

From BBC

She says: “I have real optimism that we will come through this period of time to a much better place as a society. What I don't have optimism about is that this is a quick fix.”

From BBC

This is not the first time scientists have looked for a technological fix for a threat that, although incredibly rare, still plays in a loop — like the ominous theme from “Jaws” — in the back of many oceangoers’ minds.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adjust
• correct
• overhaul
• patch
• rebuild
• regulate
• restore
• revamp
• revise