edge
a line or border at which a surface terminates: Grass grew along the edges of the road. The paper had deckle edges.
a brink or verge: the edge of a cliff; the edge of disaster.
any of the narrow surfaces of a thin, flat object: a book with gilt edges.
a line at which two surfaces of a solid object meet: an edge of a box.
the thin, sharp side of the blade of a cutting instrument or weapon.
the sharpness proper to a blade: The knife has lost its edge.
sharpness or keenness of language, argument, tone of voice, appetite, desire, etc.: The snack took the edge off his hunger. Her voice had an edge to it.
British Dialect. a hill or cliff.
an improved position; advantage: He gained the edge on his opponent.
Cards.
advantage, especially the advantage gained by being the age or eldest hand.
Ice Skating. one of the two edges of a skate blade where the sides meet the bottom surface, made sharp by carving a groove on the bottom.
Skiing. one of the two edges on the bottom of a ski that is angled into a slope when making a turn.
to put an edge on; sharpen.
to provide with an edge or border: to edge a terrace with shrubbery; to edge a skirt with lace.
to make or force (one's way) gradually by moving sideways.
Metalworking.
to turn (a piece to be rolled) onto its edge.
to roll (a piece set on edge).
to give (a piece) a desired width by passing between vertical rolls.
to rough (a piece being forged) so that the bulk is properly distributed for final forging.
to move sideways: to edge through a crowd.
to advance gradually or cautiously: a car edging up to a curb.
edge in, to insert or work in or into, especially in a limited period of time: Can you edge in your suggestion before they close the discussion?
edge out, to defeat (rivals or opponents) by a small margin: The home team edged out the visitors in an exciting finish.
Idioms about edge
have an edge on, Informal. to be mildly intoxicated with alcoholic liquor: He had a pleasant edge on from the sherry.
on edge,
(of a person or a person's nerves) acutely sensitive; nervous; tense.
impatient; eager: The contestants were on edge to learn the results.
set one's teeth on edge. tooth (def. 21).
Origin of edge
1synonym study For edge
Other words for edge
Other words from edge
- edgeless, adjective
- outedge, verb (used with object), out·edged, out·edg·ing.
- un·der·edge, noun
- un·edge, verb (used with object), un·edged, un·edg·ing.
Words Nearby edge
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use edge in a sentence
A Washington Post-ABC News poll released Wednesday showed Biden with a narrow edge in the battleground state, where protests erupted after last month’s police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.
Election live updates: Trump returns to Wisconsin; Biden to face live audience at town hall | Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostFrom the starting position on the left it takes two flips to move node 1 into a space where it can be connected to node 6 without crossing any other edges.
A New Algorithm for Graph Crossings, Hiding in Plain Sight | Stephanie DeMarco | September 15, 2020 | Quanta MagazineIt has not fallen into chaos, but it’s kind of right on the edge of it.
What if Your Company Had No Rules? (Bonus Episode) | Maria Konnikova | September 12, 2020 | FreakonomicsThey gather in the small village of Carrbridge, Scotland, on the edge of a national park in the Scottish highlands, for the Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship.
If you’re looking for a pot that will ensure its contents don’t stick to the edges or boil over the sides, this design has got you covered.
Not to be left behind, progressives in neighboring Wisconsin clamored to join the cutting edge of public health.
French officials were already on edge after a series of apparently unconnected attacks, including the stabbing of police officers.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre | Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe rage that Marvin has embodied, a man on the edge of eruption, is always a badly wounded man.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTMarvin hops over the edge of his retaining wall, which he built.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAnother man chimes in: “Today we are living at the edge of suffering.”
After a bit of waiting, Mac decided that the smoke was floating from a certain direction, and we began to edge carefully that way.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairHe was hurrying towards the corner of the palace grounds when a shriek from Winifred set his teeth on edge.
The Red Year | Louis TracyThe first man my eyes lighted upon as I stepped inside was MacRae, humped disconsolately on the edge of a bunk.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairSquinty turned around, standing on the edge of the little brook, and waited, his heart beating faster and faster.
Squinty the Comical Pig | Richard BarnumFeeling sixteen and very foolish, she sank to the edge of a chair and muttered something about the charm of the room.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
British Dictionary definitions for edge
/ (ɛdʒ) /
the border, brim, or margin of a surface, object, etc
a brink or verge: the edge of a cliff; the edge of a breakthrough
maths
a line along which two faces or surfaces of a solid meet
a line joining two vertices of a graph
the sharp cutting side of a blade
keenness, sharpness, or urgency: the walk gave an edge to his appetite
force, effectiveness, or incisiveness: the performance lacked edge
dialect
a cliff, ridge, or hillside
(capital) (in place names): Hade Edge
have the edge on or have the edge over to have a slight advantage or superiority (over)
on edge
nervously irritable; tense
nervously excited or eager
set someone's teeth on edge to make someone acutely irritated or uncomfortable
(tr) to provide an edge or border for
(tr) to shape or trim (the edge or border of something), as with a knife or scissors: to edge a pie
to push (one's way, someone, something, etc) gradually, esp edgeways
(tr) cricket to hit (a bowled ball) with the edge of the bat
(tr) to tilt (a ski) sideways so that one edge digs into the snow
(tr) to sharpen (a knife, etc)
Origin of edge
1Derived forms of edge
- edgeless, adjective
- edger, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with edge
In addition to the idioms beginning with edge
- edge in
- edge out
also see:
- cutting edge
- get a word in edgewise
- have the edge on
- on edge
- on the edge
- over the edge
- set one's teeth on edge
- take the edge off
- thin edge of the wedge
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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