Meaning

• A final examination; a test or examination given at the end of a term or class; the test that concludes a class.

• The last round, game or match in a contest, after which the winner is determined.

• A contest that narrows a field of contestants (finalists) to ranked positions, usually in numbered places (1st place/prize, 2nd place/prize, etc.) or a winner and numbered runners-up (1st runner-up, etc.).

• The final part of a syllable, the combination of medial and rime in phonetics and phonology.

• The tonic or keynote of a Gregorian mode, and hence the final note of any conventional melody played in that mode.

Meaning

• Last; ultimate.

  "final solution;   the final day of a school term"

• Conclusive; decisive.

  "a final judgment;   the battle of Waterloo brought the contest to a final issue"

• Respecting an end or object to be gained; respecting the purpose or ultimate end in view.

• (grammar) Expressing purpose; as in the term final clause.

• Word-final, occurring at the end of a word.