finish

[fin-ish] /ˈfɪn ɪʃ/
verb (used with object)
1.
to bring (something) to an end or to completion; complete:
to finish a novel; to finish breakfast.
2.
to come to the end of (a course, period of time, etc.):
to finish school.
3.
to use completely (often followed by up or off):
to finish up a can of paint; to finish off the rest of the milk.
4.
to overcome completely; destroy or kill (often followed by off):
This spray will finish off the cockroaches.
5.
to complete and perfect in detail; put the final touches on (sometimes followed by up):
He decided to finish his plan more carefully. She finished up a painting.
6.
to put a finish on (wood, metal, etc.):
We finished the desk in antique red lacquer.
7.
to perfect (a person) in education, accomplishments, social graces, etc.
8.
to ready (livestock) for market by feeding a diet calculated to produce the desired weight.
verb (used without object)
9.
to come to an end:
The course finishes in January.
10.
to complete a course, project, etc. (sometimes followed by up):
I finished before he did. It was nine o'clock when we finished up.
11.
(of livestock) to become fattened for market.
noun
12.
the end or conclusion; the final part or last stage.
13.
the end of a hunt, race, etc.:
a close finish.
14.
a decisive ending:
a fight to the finish.
15.
the quality of being finished or completed with smoothness, elegance, etc.:
to admire the finish of one's writing.
16.
educational or social polish.
17.
the manner in which an object is perfected or finished in its preparation, or an effect imparted in finishing.
18.
the surface coating or texture of wood, metal, etc.
19.
something used or serving to finish, complete, or perfect a thing.
20.
woodwork or the like, especially in the interior of a building, not essential to the structure but used for purposes of ornament, neatness, etc.:
a finish of black walnut.
21.
Also called finish coat, finishing coat. a final coat of plaster or paint.
22.
a material for application in finishing.
23.
Animal Husbandry. the fat tissue of livestock.
24.
the flavor remaining in the mouth after a wine has been swallowed.
Verb phrases
25.
finish with,
  1. to bring to completion:
    She's finished with her latest novel.
  2. to put aside, break all relations with, or reject finally:
    He's finished with football and will play only baseball now. After the way they treated us, we're finished with them.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English finisshen < Anglo-French, Middle French finiss-, long stem of finir < Latin fīnīre to end. See fine1
Related forms
finisher, noun
nonfinishing, adjective, noun
prefinish, verb (used with object), noun
Can be confused
Finnish, finish.
Synonyms
1. terminate, conclude, close. 13. See end1 .
Examples from the web for finish
  • The part is sisal buffed and then color buffed to achieve a mirror finish.
  • The quality of this finish is dependent on the quality of the metal being polished.
  • Some alloys of steel and aluminum cannot be brought to a mirror finish.
  • Lastly, cotton mops are used to give a mirrorlike finish to the articles.
  • The reason he wanted to finish it was that he had fallen in love with the sculpture.
  • Of course, the beautiful effects depend entirely on the finish of your father.
  • Some writers restrict the definition of algorithm to procedures that eventually finish.
  • Two series have so far aired, with a third yet to finish airing in the uk.
  • Unfinished rubber a rubber that the players agree not to finish.
  • Another third place finish in the league being the only consolation.
British Dictionary definitions for finish

finish

/ˈfɪnɪʃ/
verb (mainly transitive)
1.
to bring to an end; complete, conclude, or stop
2.
(intransitive) sometimes foll by up. to be at or come to the end; use up
3.
to bring to a desired or complete condition
4.
to put a particular surface texture on (wood, cloth, etc)
5.
(often foll by off) to destroy or defeat completely
6.
to train (a person) in social graces and talents
7.
(intransitive) foll by with
  1. to end a relationship or association
  2. to stop punishing a person: I haven't finished with you yet!
noun
8.
the final or last stage or part; end
9.
  1. the death, destruction, or absolute defeat of a person or one side in a conflict: a fight to the finish
  2. the person, event, or thing that brings this about
10.
  1. the surface texture or appearance of wood, cloth, etc: a rough finish
  2. a preparation, such as varnish, used to produce such a texture
11.
a thing, event, etc, that completes
12.
completeness and high quality of workmanship
13.
refinement in social graces
14.
(sport) ability to sprint at the end of a race: he has a good finish
Word Origin
C14: from Old French finir, from Latin fīnīre see fine1
Word Origin and History for finish
v.

late 14c., "to bring to an end;" mid-15c., "to come to an end," from Old French finiss-, present participle stem of fenir (13c.) "stop, finish, come to an end, die," from Latin finire "to limit, set bounds, put an end to, come to an end," from finis "boundary, limit, border, end," of unknown origin, perhaps related to figere "to fasten, fix" (see fix). Meaning "to kill" is from 1755. Related: Finished; finishing. Finishing school is from 1836.

n.

1779, "that which finishes or gives completion," from finish (v.). Meaning "the end" is from 1790. Finish line attested from 1873.

Slang definitions & phrases for finish

finish

verb

To put a disastrous end to something or to someone's prospects; COOK someone's GOOSE: She finished him off with a passing shot (1755+)


Idioms and Phrases with finish

finish

see: