rim

American  

[rim] / rɪm /

noun

1. the outer edge, border, margin, or brink of something, especially of a circular object.

   Synonyms:

   verge, lip

   Antonyms:

   center

2. any edge, margin, or frame added to or around a central object or area.

3. the outer circle of a wheel, attached to the hub by spokes.

4. a circular strip of metal forming the connection between an automobile wheel and tire, either permanently attached to or removable from the wheel.

5. a drive wheel or flywheel, as on a spinning mule.

6. Basketball. the metal ring from which the net is suspended to form the basket.

7. Journalism. the outer edge of a usually U -shaped copy desk, occupied by the copyreaders.

8. Metallurgy. (in an ingot) an outer layer of metal having a composition different from that of the center.

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verb (used with object)

rimmed, rimming

1. to furnish with a rim, border, or margin.

2. (of a golf ball or putt) to roll around the edge of (a hole) but not go in.

3. Basketball. (of a basketball) to roll around (the rim of the basket) and not go in.

4. to coat or encrust the rim of (a glass).

   Rim each cocktail glass with salt.

rim ¹ British  

/ rɪm /

noun

1. the raised edge of an object, esp of something more or less circular such as a cup or crater

2. the peripheral part of a wheel, to which the tyre is attached

3. basketball the hoop from which the net is suspended

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verb

1. to put a rim on (a pot, cup, wheel, etc)

2. slang to lick, kiss, or suck the anus of (one's sexual partner)

3. ball games (of a ball) to run around the edge of (a hole, basket, etc)

RIM ² British  

abbreviation

1. Mauritania (international car registration)

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Related Words

Rim, brim refer to the boundary of a circular or curved area. A rim is a line or surface bounding such an area; an edge or border: the rim of a glass. Brim usually means the inside of the rim, at the top of a hollow object (except of a hat), and is used particularly when the object contains something: The cup was filled to the brim.

Other Word Forms

• rimless adjective

Etymology

Origin of rim

First recorded before 1150; Middle English; Old English -rima (in compounds); cognate with Old Norse rimi “raised strip of land, ridge”

Example Sentences

A last-second heave looked on-line to give Vanderbilt the win—but circled the rim and bounced out.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hormuz is the only shipping channel linking some of the world’s largest energy reserves to global demand, and Iran lines its northern rim.

From The Wall Street Journal

There was just one problem, write Robert O’Connell and Laine Higgins: Johnston, a senior shooting guard for High Point University, is usually forbidden from attempting a shot anywhere near the rim.

From The Wall Street Journal

All he had to do was reach up and lay the ball through the rim—the simplest shot in basketball.

From The Wall Street Journal

The tires on my faithful old bicycle had finally given out and I had joined the hundreds clattering about town on metal wheel rims.

From Literature

Related Words

• fringe
• ledge
• lip
• perimeter
• periphery