Definition Definition

finish - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'finish' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Finish [ n.]
- That which finishes, puts an end to/ or perfects.
- The joiner work and other finer work required for the completion of a building, especially of the interior. See Inside finish, and Outside finish.
- The labor required to give final completion to any work; hence, minute detail, careful elaboration, or the like.
- See Finishing coat, under Finishing.
- 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.
- Completion; -- opposed to start, or beginning.
2 . Finish [ v. i.]
- To come to an end; to terminate.
- To end; to die.
3 . Finish [ v. t.]
- To arrive at the end of; to bring to an end; to put an end to; to make an end of; to terminate.
- To bestow the last required labor upon; to complete; to bestow the utmost possible labor upon; to perfect; to accomplish; to polish.

Meaning of 'finish' (Princeton's WordNet)

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