Complete vs. Finish

Complete vs. Finish — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Complete and Finish

Completeverb

(transitive) To finish; to make done; to reach the end.

He completed the assignment on time.

Finishnoun

An end; the end of anything.

Completeverb

(transitive) To make whole or entire.

The last chapter completes the book nicely.

Finishnoun

A protective coating given to wood or metal and other surfaces.

The car's finish was so shiny and new.

Completeadjective

With all parts included; with nothing missing; full.

My life will be complete once I buy this new television.She offered me complete control of the project.After she found the rook, the chess set was complete.

Finishnoun

The result of any process changing the physical or chemical properties of cloth.

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Completeadjective

Finished; ended; concluded; completed.

When your homework is complete, you can go and play with Martin.

Finishnoun

A finishing touch; careful elaboration; polish.

Completeadjective

Generic intensifier.

He is a complete bastard!It was a complete shock when he turned up on my doorstep.Our vacation was a complete disaster.

Finishnoun

(sports) A shot on goal, especially one that ends in a goal.

Completeadjective

In which every Cauchy sequence converges to a point within the space.

Finishverb

(transitive) To complete (something).

Be sure to finish your homework before you go to bed!
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Completeadjective

In which every set with a lower bound has a greatest lower bound.

Finishverb

(transitive) To apply a treatment to a surface or similar.

The furniture was finished in teak veneer.

Completeadjective

In which all small limits exist.

Finishverb

(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.

Completeadjective

In which every semantically valid well-formed formula is provable.

Finishverb

(intransitive) To come to an end.

We had to leave before the concert had finished.

Completeadjective

That is in a given complexity class and is such that every other problem in the class can be reduced to it (usually in polynomial time or logarithmic space).

Finishverb

(transitive) To put an end to; to destroy.

These rumours could finish your career.

Completeverb

come or bring to a finish or an end;

He finished the dishesShe completed the requirements for her Master's DegreeThe fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours; others finished in over 4 hours

Finishnoun

a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance);

the boat had a metallic finishhe applied a coat of a clear finishwhen the finish is too thin it is difficult to apply evenly

Completeverb

bring to a whole, with all the necessary parts or elements;

A child would complete the family

Finishnoun

designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race);

excitement grew as the finish nearedmy horse was several lengths behind at the finishthe winner is the team with the most points at the finish

Completeverb

complete or carry out;

discharge one's duties

Finishnoun

the act of finishing;

his best finish in a major tournament was thirdthe speaker's finishing was greeted with applause

Completeverb

complete a pass

Finishnoun

the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey);

a crowd assembled at the finishhe was nearly exhuasted as their destination came into view

Completeverb

write all the required information onto a form;

fill out this questionnaire, please!make out a form

Finishnoun

the temporal end; the concluding time;

the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bellthe market was up at the finishthey were playing better at the close of the season

Completeadjective

having every necessary or normal part or component or step;

a complete meala complete wardrobea complete set pf the Britannicaa complete set of chinaa complete defeata complete accountingan incomplete flower

Finishnoun

(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

Completeadjective

perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities;

a complete gentlemanconsummate happinessa consummate performance

Finishnoun

event whose occurrence ends something;

his death marked the ending of an erawhen these final episodes are broadcast it will be the finish of the show

Completeadjective

having all four whorls or principal parts--sepals and petals and stamens and carpels (or pistils);

complete flowers

Finishnoun

the downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict);

booze will be the finish of himit was a fight to the finish

Completeadjective

highly skilled;

an accomplished pianista complete musician

Finishnoun

a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality;

they performed with great polishI admired the exquisite refinement of his prosealmost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art

Completeadjective

without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers;

an arrant foola complete cowarda consummate foola double-dyed villaingross negligencea perfect idiotpure follywhat a sodding messstark staring mada thoroughgoing villainutter nonsense

Finishverb

come or bring to a finish or an end;

He finished the dishesShe completed the requirements for her Master's DegreeThe fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours; others finished in over 4 hours

Completeadjective

having come or been brought to a conclusion;

the harvesting was completethe affair is over, ended, finishedthe abruptly terminated interview

Finishverb

finally be or do something;

He ended up marrying his high school sweethearthe wound up being unemployed and living at home again

Finishverb

have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical;

the bronchioles terminate in a capillary bedYour rights stop where you infringe upon the rights of otherMy property ends by the bushesThe symphony ends in a pianissimo

Finishverb

provide with a finish;

The carpenter finished the table beautifully

Finishverb

finish eating all the food on one's plate or on the table;

She polished off the remaining potatoes

Finishverb

cause to finish a relationship with somebody;

That finished me with Mary