surface finish

English

Noun

surface finish (plural surface finishes)

1. (engineering) The quality of a surface, in terms of its roughness, microscopic pattern (lay) and macroscopic pattern (waviness).
   • 2013, N. Dowling, Mechanical Behaviour of Materials, page 485:

     If the surface finish is rougher that the polished surface of a typical smooth test specimen, the long-life fatigue strength is reduced.

Usage notes

Typically the expression good surface finish refers to a smoother surface finish, though smoothness is not always a desirable quality.