final
adjective OPAL S
/ˈfaɪnl/
/ˈfaɪnl/
Idioms - [only before noun] being or happening at the end of a series of events, actions, statements, etc.
- his final act as party leader
- Jamie is in his final year at Stirling University.
- the final week/day/minutes of something
- The referee blew the final whistle.
- The project is in its final stages.
- The final round of voting takes place on Sunday.
- They find each other in the final chapter of the book.
- I'd like to return to the final point you made.
Language Bank processprocessDescribing a process- This diagram illustrates the process of paper-making./This diagram shows how paper is made.
- First/First of all, logs are delivered to a paper mill, where the bark is removed and the wood is cut into small chips.
- Next/Second, the wood chips are pulped, either using chemicals or in a pulping machine.
- Pulping breaks down the internal structure of the wood and enables/allows the natural oils to be removed.
- Once/After the wood has been pulped, the pulp is bleached in order to remove impurities. /…is bleached so that impurities can be removed.
- The next stage is to feed the pulp into the paper machine, where it is mixed with water and then poured onto a wire conveyor belt.
- As the pulp travels along the conveyor belt, the water drains away. This causes the solid material to sink to the bottom, forming a layer of paper.
- At this point the new paper is still wet, so it is passed between large heated rollers, which press out the remaining water and simultaneously dry the paper/…dry the paper at the same time.
- The final stage is to wind the paper onto large rolls./Finally, the paper is wound onto large rolls.
Extra Examples- His final act as president was to pardon his predecessor.
- Space is the final frontier for us to explore.
- The factory deals with final assembly and testing.
- The orchestra performs its final concert of the season tomorrow.
- The plane was making its final descent so we had to fasten our seat belts.
- The referee gave him a final warning.
- The scene was set for the final showdown.
- [only before noun] being the result of a particular process
- I think you will be satisfied with the final product.
- The final election results have not been announced.
- No one could have predicted the final outcome.
- The panel will complete its work with a final report.
- that cannot be argued with or changed
- The judge's decision is final.
- Who has the final say around here?
- I'll give you $500 for it, and that's my final offer!
- I'm not coming, and that's final! (= I will not change my mind)
Word OriginMiddle English (in the adjectival sense ‘conclusive’): from Old French, or from Latin finalis, from finis ‘end’. Compare with finish.
Idioms
in the final/last analysis
- used to say what is most important after everything has been discussed, or considered
- In the final analysis, it's a matter of personal choice.
the last/final straw | the straw that breaks the camel’s back
- the last in a series of bad events, etc. that makes it impossible for you to accept a situation any longer
the last/final word (on something)
- the last comment or decision about something
- He always has to have the last word in any argument.
- I’m willing to wait one more week, and that’s my final word on the subject.
- The Chairman always has the last word on financial decisions.