rim

[rim]

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.

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

/ 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

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

abbreviation

1. Mauritania (international car registration)

Other Word Forms

• rimless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rim¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of rim¹

Old English rima ; related to Old Saxon rimi , Old Norse rimi ridge

Origin of rim²

From République Islamique de Mauritanie

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Except for one picked cuticle on a fingernail, which was ever so slightly rimmed with blood.

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Miller, the Mono Lake Committee’s Eastern Sierra policy director, and Geoff McQuilkin, its executive director, led the way to a burbling spring rimmed by innumerable hoof prints.

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“Running rim to rim,” Cronin said, “he’s as fast as any big guy in the country.”

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Feel free to follow their “Blue Out” quips with your own rim shot:

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They sprawled around the rim of the backyard swimming pool and across the adjacent lawn, their animal-print blankets and beach towels crowded with paper scraps and glue sticks.

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Related Words

• fringe 
• ledge 
• lip 
• perimeter 
• periphery