border

[ bawr-der ]

noun

1. the part or edge of a surface or area that forms its outer boundary.

   Synonyms: verge, periphery, rim

2. the line, limit, or delimiting geographic feature that separates one country, state, province, etc., from another: The largest lake within the borders of Canada is Great Bear Lake.

   You cannot cross the border without a visa.

   The largest lake within the borders of Canada is Great Bear Lake.

3. the district or region that lies along the boundary line of another.
4. the frontier of civilization.
5. the border,
   1. the border between the United States and Mexico, especially along the Rio Grande.
   2. (in the British Isles) the region along the boundary between England and Scotland.
6. brink; verge.
7. an ornamental strip or design around the edge of a printed page, a drawing, etc.
8. an ornamental design or piece of ornamental trimming around the edge of a fabric, rug, garment, article of furniture, etc.
9. Horticulture.
   1. a long, narrow bed planted with flowers, shrubs, or trees.
   2. a strip of ground in which plants are grown, enclosing an area in a garden or running along the edge of a walk or driveway.
   3. the plants growing in such a strip:

      a border of tulips along the path.

10. Theater.
    1. a narrow curtain or strip of painted canvas hung above the stage, masking the flies and lighting units, and forming the top of the stage set.
    2. border light.

verb (used with object)

1. to make a border around; adorn with a border.
2. to form a border or boundary to.
3. to lie on the border of; adjoin.

verb (used without object)

1. to form or constitute a border; be next to:

   California borders on the Pacific Ocean.

2. to approach closely in character; verge:

   The situation borders on tragedy.

border

¹

/ ˈbɔːdə /

noun

1. a band or margin around or along the edge of something
2. the dividing line or frontier between political or geographic regions
3. 1. a region straddling such a boundary
   2. ( as modifier )

      border country

4. 1. a design or ornamental strip around the edge or rim of something, such as a printed page or dinner plate
   2. ( as modifier )

      a border illustration

5. a long narrow strip of ground planted with flowers, shrubs, trees, etc, that skirts a path or wall or surrounds a lawn or other area

   a herbaceous border

verb

1. tr to decorate or provide with a border
2. whenintr, foll by on or upon
   1. to be adjacent (to); lie along the boundary (of)

      his land borders on mine

   2. to be nearly the same (as); verge (on)

      his stupidity borders on madness

Border

²

/ ˈbɔːdə /

noun

1. often plural the area straddling the border between England and Scotland
2. the area straddling the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
3. the region in S South Africa around East London

Border

³

/ ˈbɔːdə /

noun

1. BorderAllan (Robert)1955MAustralianSPORT AND GAMES: cricketer Allan ( Robert ). born 1955, Australian cricketer; played in 156 test matches (1978–1994), 93 as captain; first Australian batsman to score 10,000 test runs

Other Words From

• bor·dered adjective
• bor·der·less adjective
• trans·bor·der adjective
• un·bor·dered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of border¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English bordure, from Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to bord(er) “to border” (derivative of bord “ship's side, edge,” from Germanic; board ) + -ure noun suffix; -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of border¹

C14: from Old French bordure , from border to border, from bort side of a ship, of Germanic origin; see board

Synonym Study

See edge. See boundary.

Example Sentences

From there we took the train to Nice, France, but the French border control caught us and sent us back to Italy.

From The Daily Beast

Shrubs and small trees dot a parched landscape along the road from Turbat to the border.

From The Daily Beast

A few weeks later, the militants carried out a series of raids on border posts, killing five Iranian policemen.

From The Daily Beast

Saleem believes that the strike came from a nearby airbase across the Iranian border.

From The Daily Beast

Maula Bux himself was killed in 2006, after being lured across the border by Iranian forces on the pretext of a drug deal.

From The Daily Beast

A border feud at Reedsquair, between the English and Scottish marchmen, in which the former were completely beaten.

From Project Gutenberg

A few minutes, and he would perhaps have slipped across the border—when something startled him into sudden life again.

From Project Gutenberg

For the cry is gone round about the border of Moab: the howling thereof unto Gallim, and unto the well of Elim the cry thereof.

From Project Gutenberg

He was one of the most daring, brave and intrepid officers of the army, and his adventures almost border on romance.

From Project Gutenberg

The Allegheny Mountains border Virginia along the west and numerous high, narrow ridges are found here.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abut
• adjoin
• encircle
• flank
• neighbor
• surround