finish

Etymology

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

1. An end; the end of anything.
2. A protective coating given to wood or metal and other surfaces.
   The car's finish was so shiny and new.
3. The result of any process changing the physical or chemical properties of cloth.
4. A finishing touch; careful elaboration; polish.
5. (sports) A shot on goal, especially one that ends in a goal.
   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. September 2, 2011, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC
   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. 2023-08-12, Suzanne Wrack, “England hit back to beat Colombia and set up World Cup semi with Australia”, in The Guardian

verb

1. (transitive) To complete (something).
   Be sure to finish your homework before you go to bed!
2. (transitive) To apply a treatment to (a surface or similar).
   The furniture was finished in teak veneer.
   Seats are trimmed in a grey and blue moquette and tables are finished with grey Vyanide tops, gilt edging and ebony legs. 1961 February, “New "Mini-Buffets" from Wolverton”, in Trains Illustrated, page 79
3. (transitive) To change an animal's food supply in the months before it is due for slaughter, with the intention of fattening the animal.
   Due to BSE, cows in the United Kingdom must be finished and slaughtered before 30 months of age.
4. (intransitive) To come to an end.
   We had to leave before the concert had finished.
5. (transitive) To put an end to; to destroy.
   These rumours could finish your career.
6. (intransitive, sex) To reach orgasm.
   "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. 14 June 2019, Macaela Mackenzie, Lindsay Geller, “Why Your Orgasm Is MIA—And Exactly What To Do About It”, in Women's Health, archived from the original on 2021-01-25