‖n. [ L. ] An end; conclusion. It is often placed at the end of a book. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Finished p. pr. & vb. n. Finishing. ] [ F. finir (with a stem finiss- in several forms, whence E. -ish: see -ish.), fr. L. finire to limit, finish, end, fr. finis boundary, limit, end; perh. for fidnis, and akin findere to cleave, E. fissure. ] 1. To arrive at the end of; to bring to an end; to put an end to; to make an end of; to terminate. [ 1913 Webster ]

And heroically hath finished
A life heroic. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bestow the last required labor upon; to complete; to bestow the utmost possible labor upon; to perfect; to accomplish; to polish.

Syn. -- To end; terminate; close; conclude; complete; accomplish; perfect. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which finishes, puts an end to&unr_; or perfects. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) The joiner work and other finer work required for the completion of a building, especially of the interior. See Inside finish, and Outside finish. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Fine Arts) (a) The labor required to give final completion to any work; hence, minute detail, careful elaboration, or the like. (b) See Finishing coat, under Finishing. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Completion; -- opposed to start, or beginning. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To come to an end; to terminate. [ 1913 Webster ]

His days may finish ere that hapless time. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To end; to die. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Polished to the highest degree of excellence; complete; perfect; as, a finished poem; a finished education. [ 1913 Webster ]

Finished work (Mach.), work that is made smooth or polished, though not necessarily completed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who finishes, puts an end to, completes, or perfects; esp. used in the trades, as in hatting, weaving, etc., for the workman who gives a finishing touch to the work, or any part of it, and brings it to perfection. [ 1913 Webster ]

O prophet of glad tidings, finisher
Of utmost hope! Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Something that gives the finishing touch to, or settles, anything. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to complete or to render fit for the market or for use. [ 1913 Webster ]

Finishing coat. (a) (Plastering) the final coat of plastering applied to walls and ceilings, usually white and rubbed smooth. (b) (Painting) The final coat of paint, usually differently mixed applied from the others. --
Finishing press, a machine for pressing fabrics. --
Finishing rolls (Iron Working), the rolls of a train which receive the bar from roughing rolls, and reduce it to its finished shape. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of completing or perfecting; the final work upon or ornamentation of a thing. [ 1913 Webster ]