Finishing

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The process of concluding an activity involves completing tasks and finalizing details for a polished result
2. The process of concluding an endeavor entails completing various components and attending to the last enhancements for a refined outcome
3. Bringing an activity to a definite end by completing all necessary steps ; adding final details or treatments to a product to improve its appearance or function

Etymology: "Finishing" starts with a boundary rather than an ending. It descends from Old French "finir", which comes from Latin "finire", "to limit or bound". That verb was built on "finis", which meant a border or boundary as much as an end. The same root gave English "confine", "define" and "final", so completion was once a matter of marking where something stopped. The verb "finish" came into English through Old French, and its present participle "finishing" lets it describe the activity itself rather than only the result. Over time the trades gave it a second sense: a finish became the last coating or surface on wood, metal or cloth. That is why the word can cover both the closing work and the polish applied to it.

Synonyms: completing, concluding, finalizing, culminating

Antonyms: starting, beginning, initiating