Something that is finite has a definite fixed size or extent.
[formal]
...a finite set of elements.
Only a finite number of situations can arise.
The fossil fuels (coal and oil) are finite resources.
Synonyms: limited, bounded, restricted, demarcated More Synonyms of finite
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A finite clause is a clause based on a verb group which indicates tense, such as 'went', 'is waiting', or 'will be found', rather than on an infinitive or a participle. Compare non-finite.
English Easy Learning GrammarFinite and non-finite verbsIn a sentence, there is normally at least one verb that has both a subject and a tense.When a verb has a subject and a tense, it can be referred to as ... Read more
finite in British English
(ˈfaɪnaɪt)
adjective
1.
bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent
a finite difference
2. mathematics, logic
having a number of elements that is a natural number; able to be counted using the natural numbers less than some natural number
Compare denumerable, infinite (sense 4)
3.
a.
limited or restricted in nature
human existence is finite
b.
(as noun)
the finite
4.
denoting any form or occurrence of a verb inflected for grammatical features such as person, number, and tense
Derived forms
finitely (ˈfinitely)
adverb
finiteness (ˈfiniteness)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin fīnītus limited, from fīnīre to limit, end
finite in American English
(ˈfaɪˌnaɪt)
adjective
1.
having measurable or definable limits; not infinite
2. Grammar
having limits of person, number, and tense
said of a verb that can be used in a predicate
3. Ancient Mathematics
a.
capable of being reached, completed, or surpassed by counting
said of numbers or sets
b.
neither infinite nor infinitesimal
said of a magnitude
noun
4.
anything that has measurable limits; finite thing
Derived forms
finitely (ˈfiˌnitely)
adverb
finiteness (ˈfiˌniteness)
noun
Word origin
ME finit < L finitus, pp. of finire, finish
Examples of 'finite' in a sentence
finite
Originals - of which there are only a finite number - are sure to rise in price.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Too much capital is chasing a finite number of opportunities.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This noise was entirely the result of the fact that real genetic populations were finite in size.
Wills, Christopher The Runaway Brain: the Evolution of Human Uniqueness (1993)
The core problem with working longer hours is that time is a finite resource.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Does it have to be a finite number?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And there is a finite limit to size.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
She had already written in blog posts from her boat about coping with finite resources.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But there is a finite number of big clubs.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Financial organisms are in competition with one another for finite resources.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But you could also be forgiven for consciously diverting some of your finite resources into an area where you can compete.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The structure of the English finite verb phrase is really rather beautiful.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
We have an infinite number of choices ahead, but a finite number of endings.
Siegel, Bernie S. (MD) Love, Medicine and Miracles (1990)
Mining is finished, the farmers live on handouts and there is a finite number of fishermen.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When there is high demand for finite resources, there is always potential for conflict.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This is again the virtue of a finite resource: familiarity breeding content.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In a world of finite resources, we are all the problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The court sought to stretch modest finite resources so far as possible to meet the parties' needs.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is actually more like gold than money, because it has been designed as a finite resource.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The electric car industry has a vested interest in making this work because there will be more cars using electricity from a finite number of power supplies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It also places pressure on the military, which has a finite number of positions and needs a sufficient force of fit soldiers to deploy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Houses, being more or less finite in number, kept their real value.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
finite
British English: finite ADJECTIVE
Something that is finite has a definite fixed size or extent.
...a finite set of elements.
American English: finite
Brazilian Portuguese: finito
Chinese: 有限的
European Spanish: finito
French: fini
German: begrenzt
Italian: finito
Japanese: 限りのある
Korean: 한정된
European Portuguese: finito
Latin American Spanish: finito
All related terms of 'finite'
non-finite
A non-finite clause is a clause which is based on an infinitive or a participle and has no tense . Compare → finite .
finite resource
The resources of an organization or person are the materials, money, and other things that they have and can use in order to function properly.
finite state grammar
a simplified form of transformational grammar devised by Noam Chomsky
finite element analysis
Finite element analysis is a type of computer-based analysis which calculates variations of quantities such as temperature or stress in a body by dividing it into small parts with no spaces between them.
calculus of finite differences
the branch of mathematics concerned with changes in a dependent variable due to discrete changes in the independent variable
Chinese translation of 'finite'
finite
(ˈfaɪnaɪt)
adj
[number, amount]有限的 (yǒuxiàn de)
[verb]限定的 (xiàndìng de)
(adjective)
Definition
having limits in size, space, or time
a finite set of elements
Synonyms
limited
They have a limited amount of time to get their point across.