Borders

[ bawr-derz ]

/ ˈbɔr dərz /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR Borders ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a region in SE Scotland. 1804 sq. mi. (4671 sq. km).

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Test your memory on these verbal firecrackers from the week of June 29 to July 5!

Question 1 of 7

anchorite

a granular metamorphic rock.

a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.

a hobble or fetter for a horse or other animal.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Definition for borders (2 of 2)

border

[ bawr-der ]

/ ˈbɔr dər /

noun

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

the line that separates one country, state, province, etc., from another; frontier line: You cannot cross the border without a visa.

the district or region that lies along the boundary line of another.

the frontier of civilization.

the border,

the border between the U.S. and Mexico, especially along the Rio Grande.
(in the British Isles) the region along the boundary between England and Scotland.

brink; verge.

an ornamental strip or design around the edge of a printed page, a drawing, etc.

an ornamental design or piece of ornamental trimming around the edge of a fabric, rug, garment, article of furniture, etc.

Horticulture.

a long, narrow bed planted with flowers, shrubs, or trees.
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.
the plants growing in such a strip: a border of tulips along the path.

Theater.

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.
border light.

verb (used with object)

to make a border around; adorn with a border.

to form a border or boundary to.

to lie on the border of; adjoin.

verb (used without object)

to form or constitute a border; be next to: California borders on the Pacific Ocean.

to approach closely in character; verge: The situation borders on tragedy.

Origin of border

1325–75; Middle English bordure < Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to bord(er) to border (derivative of bord ship's side, edge < Germanic; see board) + -ure -ure

SYNONYMS FOR border

1 rim, periphery, verge.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR border ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for border

1. See edge. 2. See boundary.

OTHER WORDS FROM border

bor·dered, adjectivebor·der·less, adjectivetrans·bor·der, adjectiveun·bor·dered, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH border

boarder border

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for borders

And Pakistan has a long history of using non-state actors to project power beyond its borders.
Pakistan’s Dance With Terrorists Just Backfired and Killed 132 Children|Chris Allbritton|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Along with amnesty, our borders were to be secured once and for all.
The Liberal Case Against Illegal Immigration|Doug McIntyre|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ghanaian soccer player Michael Essien, who plays for AC Milan, has been the subject of what borders on fear mongering.
Europe’s Hidden Ebola Cases|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its militants say explicitly they are out to erase the borders that Sykes-Picot established across most of the modern Middle East.
Turkish President Declares Lawrence of Arabia a Bigger Enemy than ISIS|Jamie Dettmer|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They declared triumphantly they would bulldoze other Western-imposed borders as well.
Turkish President Declares Lawrence of Arabia a Bigger Enemy than ISIS|Jamie Dettmer|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Those who live on the margin of great rivers, or the borders of the sea, will "do business on the great waters."
Christianity and Greek Philosophy|Benjamin Franklin Cocker
Two low rocky ranges enter its borders from the south and run northward in a bare and unshaded mass toward the plain country.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6|Various
The party were very much interested in examining the houses they saw on the borders of the stream.
Four Young Explorers|Oliver Optic
There was a labourer working at a fence round a plantation, on the borders of the grounds.
Wuthering Heights|Emily Bronte
The heavy products that grow on the borders of the rivers are to come down, while comparatively little in quantity goes up.
Rollo on the Rhine|Jacob Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for borders (1 of 3)

border

/ (ˈbɔːdə) /

noun

a band or margin around or along the edge of something

the dividing line or frontier between political or geographic regions

a region straddling such a boundary
(as modifier)border country

a design or ornamental strip around the edge or rim of something, such as a printed page or dinner plate
(as modifier)a border illustration

a long narrow strip of ground planted with flowers, shrubs, trees, etc, that skirts a path or wall or surrounds a lawn or other areaa herbaceous border

verb

(tr) to decorate or provide with a border

(when intr , foll by on or upon)

to be adjacent (to); lie along the boundary (of)his land borders on mine
to be nearly the same (as); verge (on)his stupidity borders on madness

Word Origin for border

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

British Dictionary definitions for borders (2 of 3)

Border¹

/ (ˈbɔːdə) /

noun the Border

(often plural) the area straddling the border between England and Scotland

the area straddling the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

the region in S South Africa around East London

British Dictionary definitions for borders (3 of 3)

Border²

/ (ˈbɔːdə) /

noun

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

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

Borders

noun

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Definition for borders (2 of 2)