This International Standard describes general types of surface-finishing processes and provides a vocabulary that defines terms related to these processes. Emphasis is placed on practical usage in surface-finishing technology in the metal-finishing field. The vocabulary does not include definitions and terms for porcelain and vitreous enamel, thermally sprayed coatings and hot-dip galvanizing for which specialized vocabularies and glossaries exist or are in preparation. For the most part, basic terms that have the same meaning in surface finishing as in other fields of technology, and that are defined in handbooks and dictionaries of chemistry and physics, are not included.