Etimology
From Middle English finishen, finisshen, finischen, from Old French finiss-, stem of some of the conjugated forms of finir, from Latin fīnīre, present active infinitive of fīniō, from fīnis (“end, limit, border, boundary”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeygʷ- (“to stick, set up”) or from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to split”).
noun
finish (plural finishes)
An end; the end of anything.
A protective coating given to wood or metal and other surfaces.
The result of any process changing the physical or chemical properties of cloth.
A finishing touch; careful elaboration; polish.
(sports) A shot on goal, especially one that ends in a goal.
Examples
Noel meets a cruel finish: "Kid," the government lackey who "protects" the clubs in the tourist belt, shoots Noel dead in an alley for stealing Pining out of the brothel.
The car's finish was so shiny and new.
The Italian opted for Bolton's Cahill alongside captain John Terry - and his decision was rewarded with a goal after only 13 minutes. Bulgaria gave a hint of defensive frailties to come when they failed to clear Young's corner, and when Gareth Barry found Cahill in the box he applied the finish past Nikolay Mihaylov.
However, Colombia broke the deadlock, Leicy Santos toying with Rachel Daly after collecting Caicedo’s pass, before sweeping a dipping effort over a caught-out Mary Earps. It was a luscious finish and the crowd enjoyed it.
verb
finish (third-person singular simple present finishes, present participle finishing, simple past and past participle finished)
(transitive) To complete (something).
(transitive) To apply a treatment to (a surface or similar).
(transitive) To change an animal's food supply in the months before it is due for slaughter, with the intention of fattening the animal.
(intransitive) To come to an end.
(transitive) To put an end to; to destroy.
(intransitive, sex) To reach orgasm.
Examples
Be sure to finish your homework before you go to bed!
The furniture was finished in teak veneer.
Mr. Cooke had had a sloop yacht built at Far Harbor, the completion of which had been delayed, and which was but just delivered. […] The Maria had a cabin, which was finished in hard wood and yellow plush, and accommodations for keeping things cold.
Seats are trimmed in a grey and blue moquette and tables are finished with grey Vyanide tops, gilt edging and ebony legs.
Due to BSE, cows in the United Kingdom must be finished and slaughtered before 30 months of age.
We had to leave before the concert had finished.
These rumours could finish your career.
"Understand the anxiety around sex and what beliefs are triggering it," says Van Kirk."Are you worried you aren't good in bed? That you'll come off as selfish? That pleasuring you will take too long? Reframe that anxiety. Your excitement needs to be louder than any anxiety" to finish.
Related words
antonyms
(antonym(s) of "to complete"): initiate, begin, start