margin

American  

[mahr-jin] / ˈmɑr dʒɪn /

noun

1. the space around the printed or written matter on a page.

2. an amount allowed or available beyond what is actually necessary.

   to allow a margin for error.

3. a limit in condition, capacity, etc., beyond or below which something ceases to exist, be desirable, or be possible.

   the margin of endurance; the margin of sanity.

   Synonyms:

   bound , confine

4. a border or edge.

   Synonyms:

   brink , verge , rim

   Antonyms:

   center

5. Philately.  selvage.

6. Finance.

   1. security, as a percentage in money, deposited with a broker by a client as a provision against loss on transactions.

   2. the amount representing the customer's investment or equity in such an account.

7. the difference between the amount of a loan and the market value of the collateral pledged as security for it.

8. Commerce.  the difference between the cost and the selling price.

9. an amount or degree of difference.

   The measure passed by a margin of just three votes.

10. Economics.  the point at which the return from economic activity barely covers the cost of production, and below which production is unprofitable.

11. Entomology.  the border of an insect's wing.

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verb (used with object)

1. to provide with a margin or border.

2. to furnish with marginal notes, as a document.

3. to enter in the margin, as of a book.

4. Finance.  to deposit a margin upon.

5. Stock Exchange.  to purchase (securities) on margin.

   That stock was heavily margined during the last month.

margin British  

/ ˈmɑːdʒɪn, ˈmɑːdʒənt /

noun

1. an edge or rim, and the area immediately adjacent to it; border

2. the blank space surrounding the text on a page

3. a vertical line on a page, esp one on the left-hand side, delineating this space

4. an additional amount or one beyond the minimum necessary

   a margin of error

5. a payment made in addition to a basic wage, esp for special skill or responsibility

6. a bound or limit

7. the amount by which one thing differs from another

   a large margin separated the parties

8. commerce the profit on a transaction

9. economics the minimum return below which an enterprise becomes unprofitable

10. finance

    1. collateral deposited by a client with a broker as security

    2. the excess of the value of a loan's collateral over the value of the loan

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verb

1. to provide with a margin; border

2. finance to deposit a margin upon

Related Words

See edge.

Etymology

Origin of margin

1300–50; Middle English < Latin margin- (stem of margō ) border; akin to march ²

Example Sentences

Several of the industry’s biggest auto retailers reported weaker margins and profits on new-vehicle sales in the most recent quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Norris is still the favourite to win the title - the points margin means that he just needs to finish third to win the championship in Abu Dhabi on Sunday even if Verstappen wins the race.

From BBC

The sales drop will further pinch the margins for U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Zhao’s so laser-focused on marrying Shakespeare’s true tragedy with his fictional one that there’s barely any honesty left in the margins.

From Salon

In this particular time in this particular market, that pushes USC to the margins of Los Angeles’ congested sporting landscape.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• edge
• limit
• surplus