fix

—fixable, adj. —fixability, n.

/fiks/, v., fixed or fixt, fixing, n.

v.t.

1. to repair; mend.

2. to put in order or in good condition; adjust or arrrange: She fixed her hair in a bun.

3. to make fast, firm, or stable.

4. to place definitely and more or less permanently: to fix a circus poster to a wall.

5. to settle definitely; determine: to fix a price.

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, esp. 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, esp. a pet).

18. Chem.

a. to make stable in consistency or condition; reduce from fluidity or volatility to a more stable state.

b. to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a useful compound, as a nitrate fertilizer.

19. Photog. to render (an image) permanent by removing light-sensitive silver halides.

20. Microscopy. to kill, make rigid, and preserve for microscopic study.

v.i.

21. to become fixed.

22. to become set; assume a rigid or solid form.

23. to become stable or permanent.

24. to settle down.

25. Slang. to inject oneself with a narcotic.

26. Chiefly Southern U.S. to prepare; plan (usually fol. by an infinitive): I was just fixing to call you. We're fixing to go to Colorado this summer.

27. fix on or upon, to decide on; determine: We won't be able to fix on a location for the banquet until we know the number of guests.

28. 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.

29. fix up, Informal.

a. to arrange for: to fix up a date.

b. to provide with; furnish.

c. to repair; renew.

d. to smooth over; solve: They weren't able to fix up their differences.

n.

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

31. Informal. a repair, adjustment, or solution, usually of an immediate nature: Can you think of a fix for the problem?

32. Navig.

a. a charted position of a vessel or aircraft, determined by two or more bearings taken on landmarks, heavenly bod-ies, etc.

b. 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.

33. a clear determination: Can you get a fix on what he really means?

34. Slang.

a. an injection of heroin or other narcotic.

b. the narcotic or amount of narcotic injected.

c. a compulsively sought dose or infusion of something: to need one's daily fix of soap operas on TV.

35. Slang.

a. an underhand or illegal arrangement, esp. one secured through bribery or influence.

b. a contest, situation, etc., whose outcome is prearranged dishonestly.

36. in a fix, Older Slang. pregnant.

[1350-1400; 1900-05 for def. 32; 1935-40 for def. 34; ME fixen (v.) < ML fixare, deriv. of L fixus fixed, ptp. of figere to fasten]

Syn. 1. correct, amend. 3, 4. fasten, secure, stabilize. FIX, ESTABLISH imply making firm or permanent. To FIX is to fasten in position securely or to make more or less permanent against change, esp. 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. 5. establish, define. 30. dilemma, plight, quandary.

Usage. 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.

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