finish

/'finiʃ/

Friendly

Word: Finish

Part of Speech: Verb and Noun

Definition:

1. As a Verb:

   • To complete something or bring it to an end.
   • To consume all of something (like food).
   • To provide a final touch or polish to something.

2. As a Noun:

   • The act of completing something (e.g., "His finish in the race was impressive.")
   • The end point of an event or race (e.g., "The finish line is just ahead.")
   • The final taste of food or drink (especially wine).
   • A decorative texture or appearance of a surface (like how a table looks).

Usage Instructions:

• Use "finish" when you want to talk about completing tasks, consuming food, or describing the end of an event or object.
• As a verb, it often requires an object (something you finish).
• As a noun, it can refer to the conclusion of an action or event.

Examples:

• Verb: "I will finish my homework before dinner." (Completing a task)
• Noun: "The finish of the race was exciting." (The end point of the race)
• Noun in wine tasting: "This wine has a fruity finish." (The aftertaste)

Advanced Usage:

• In a competitive context, "finish" can refer to the position someone achieves (e.g., "She secured a second-place finish in the tournament.").
• In art or craftsmanship, "finish" can refer to the quality of work, as in "The carpenter gave the chair a beautiful finish."

Word Variants:

• Finishing (Gerund/Present participle) - e.g., "She is finishing her project."
• Finished (Past participle) - e.g., "He has finished the book."

Different Meanings:

• Finish (noun) can also refer to the finality of something, like "the finish of an era."
• In a more metaphorical sense, it can mean the downfall of someone, e.g., "His addiction will be the finish of him."

Synonyms:

• Complete
• Conclude
• Accomplish
• Wrap up
• Polish (when referring to quality)

Idioms:

• "To fight to the finish" means to continue fighting until the very end, regardless of the outcome.
• "Finish line" refers to the endpoint of a race or challenge.

Phrasal Verb:

• Finish up - Means to complete something.
  • Example: "I need to finish up this report before the deadline."

Summary:

The word "finish" can be used in various contexts to indicate completion, the end of an event, or even the aesthetic quality of an object.

Academic

Noun

1. the act of finishing
   • his best finish in a major tournament was third
   • the speaker's finishing was greeted with applause
2. (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
3. event whose occurrence ends something
   • his death marked the ending of an era
   • when these final episodes are broadcast it will be the finish of the show
4. 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
5. 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. the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)
   • a crowd assembled at the finish
   • he was nearly exhausted as their destination came into view
7. a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
   • 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
8. the temporal end; the concluding time
   • 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
9. a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
   • 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

Verb

1. cause to finish a relationship with somebody
   • That finished me with Mary
2. finish eating all the food on one's plate or on the table
   • She polished off the remaining potatoes
3. provide with a finish
   • The carpenter finished the table beautifully
   • this shirt is not finished properly
4. have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical
   • 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
5. finally be or do something
   • He ended up marrying his high school sweetheart
   • he wound up being unemployed and living at home again
6. come or bring to a finish or an end; others finished in over 4 hours"
   • He finished the dishes
   • She completed the requirements for her Master's Degree
   • The fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours

Synonyms

• finishing
• ending
• conclusion
• destination
• goal
• polish
• refinement
• culture
• cultivation
• stopping point
• finale
• finis
• last
• close
• coating
• eat up
• polish off
• end
• stop
• terminate
• cease
• finish up
• land up
• fetch up
• end up
• wind up
• complete