finesse

noun

/fɪˈnes/

[uncountable]

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great skill in dealing with people or situations, especially in a light and careful way
- Nigel lacked his father’s elegance and finesse.
great skill and style in doing something
- orchestral playing of great finesse

Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘purity, delicacy’): from French, related to fine ‘of high quality’.

verb

/fɪˈnes/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they finesse	/fɪˈnes/ /fɪˈnes/
he / she / it finesses	/fɪˈnesɪz/ /fɪˈnesɪz/
past simple finessed	/fɪˈnest/ /fɪˈnest/
past participle finessed	/fɪˈnest/ /fɪˈnest/
-ing form finessing	/fɪˈnesɪŋ/ /fɪˈnesɪŋ/

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finesse something (especially North American English) to deal with something in a way that is clever but slightly dishonest
- to finesse a deal
finesse something to do something with a lot of skill or style
- Only a few top players are able to finesse a victory in such a situation.

Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘purity, delicacy’): from French, related to fine ‘of high quality’.