fix

Fix is a common English word that functions as both a verb and a noun. It derives from Latin figere, meaning to fasten, and entered English with senses related to making something stable, certain, or ready. The core idea is to bring a state into conformity with a desired condition.

As a verb, fix can mean repair or mend something broken, or to fasten or secure it so it stays in place. It can also mean to arrange or determine something in advance—for example, fixing a date or fixing a price. In cooking, to fix a meal is to prepare it. In software, a fix is a patch that corrects an error.

As a noun, a fix can be the repair itself or a state of being in need of repair. It appears in “in a fix” to denote a difficult dilemma. A fix can also mean a dose of a drug or the craving for one. In illegal contexts, match fixing refers to manipulating the outcome of a competition.

Usage notes: Fix is typically transitive: you fix something. Phrasal uses include fix up (to repair or arrange) and fix someone with a gaze. The term remains common in everyday language as well as technical jargon across fields such as engineering, computing, and sports ethics.