n.

1. a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance);
   coating, finishing
   
   • 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
2. 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
3. the act of finishing;
   finishing
   
   • his best finish in a major tournament was third
   • the speaker's finishing was greeted with applause
4. the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey);
   destination, goal
   
   • a crowd assembled at the finish
   • he was nearly exhausted as their destination came into view
5. the temporal end; the concluding time;
   stopping point, finale, finis, last, conclusion, close
   
   • 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
6. (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
7. event whose occurrence ends something;
   ending, conclusion
   
   • his death marked the ending of an era
   • when these final episodes are broadcast it will be the finish of the show
8. 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
9. 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;
   polish, refinement, culture, cultivation

v.

1. come or bring to a finish or an end;
   complete
   
   • 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
2. finally be or do something;
   finish up, land up, fetch up, end up, wind up
   
   • He ended up marrying his high school sweetheart
   • he wound up being unemployed and living at home again
3. have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical;
   end, stop, terminate, cease
   
   • 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
4. provide with a finish
   
   • The carpenter finished the table beautifully
5. finish eating all the food on one's plate or on the table;
   eat up, polish off
   
   • She polished off the remaining potatoes
6. cause to finish a relationship with somebody
   
   • That finished me with Mary