finish Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
    finishing; coating.
    • the boat had a metallic finish
    • he applied a coat of a clear finish
    • when the finish is too thin it is difficult to apply evenly
  2. noun the temporal end; the concluding time
    last; finis; finale; close; stopping point; conclusion.
    • the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell
    • the market was up at the finish
    • they were playing better at the close of the season
  3. noun a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
    culture; polish; cultivation; refinement.
    • they performed with great polish
    • I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose
    • almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art"--Joseph Conrad
  4. noun the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)
    destination; goal.
    • a crowd assembled at the finish
    • he was nearly exhausted as their destination came into view
  5. noun designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race)
    • excitement grew as the finish neared
    • my horse was several lengths behind at the finish
    • the winner is the team with the most points at the finish
  6. noun the downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict)
    • booze will be the finish of him
    • it was a fight to the finish
  7. noun event whose occurrence ends something
    conclusion; ending.
    • his death marked the ending of an era
    • when these final episodes are broadcast it will be the finish of the show
  8. noun (wine tasting) the taste of a wine on the back of the tongue (as it is swallowed)
    • the wine has a nutty flavor and a pleasant finish
  9. noun the act of finishing
    finishing.
    • his best finish in a major tournament was third
    • the speaker's finishing was greeted with applause
  10. verb come or bring to a finish or an end; others finished in over 4 hours"
    complete.
    • He finished the dishes
    • She completed the requirements for her Master's Degree
    • The fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours
  11. verb finally be or do something
    wind up; fetch up; land up; end up; finish up.
    • He ended up marrying his high school sweetheart
    • he wound up being unemployed and living at home again
  12. verb have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical
    stop; cease; end; terminate.
    • the bronchioles terminate in a capillary bed
    • Your rights stop where you infringe upon the rights of other
    • My property ends by the bushes
    • The symphony ends in a pianissimo
  13. verb provide with a finish
    • The carpenter finished the table beautifully
    • this shirt is not finished properly
  14. verb finish eating all the food on one's plate or on the table
    eat up; polish off.
    • She polished off the remaining potatoes
  15. verb cause to finish a relationship with somebody
    • That finished me with Mary

WordNet

Fin"ish transitive verb
Etymology
F. finir (with a stem finiss- in several forms, whence E. -ish: see -ish.),fr. L. finire to limit, finish, end, fr. finis boundary, limit, end; perh. for fidnis, and akin findere to cleave, E. fissure.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Finished ; present participle & verbal noun Finishing
Definitions
  1. To arrive at the end of; to bring to an end; to put an end to; to make an end of; to terminate.
    And heroically hath finished A life heroic. Milton.
  2. To bestow the last required labor upon; to complete; to bestow the utmost possible labor upon; to perfect; to accomplish; to polish. Syn. -- To end; terminate; close; conclude; complete; accomplish; perfect.
Fin"ish intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To come to an end; to terminate.
    His days may finish ere that hapless time. Shak.
  2. To end; to die. R. Shak.
Fin"ish noun
Definitions
  1. That which finishes, puts an end to or perfects.
  2. (Arch.) The joiner work and other finer work required for the completion of a building, especially of the interior. See Inside finish, and Outside finish.
  3. (Fine Arts) (a) The labor required to give final completion to any work; hence, minute detail, careful elaboration, or the like. (b) See Finishing coat, under Finishing.
  4. The result of completed labor, as on the surface of an object; manner or style of finishing; as, a rough, dead, or glossy finish given to cloth, stone, metal, etc.
  5. Completion; -- opposed to start, or beginning.

Webster 1913