brim¹

[brim]

See more synonyms for brim on Thesaurus.com

noun

the upper edge of anything hollow; rim; brink: the brim of a cup.
a projecting edge: the brim of a hat.
margin.

verb (used without object), brimmed, brim·ming.

to be full to the brim.

verb (used with object), brimmed, brim·ming.

to fill to the brim.

Origin of brim¹

1175–1225; Middle English brimme brink, rim (earlier, shore, bank); apparently akin to Middle High German brem, (German Bräme), Old Norse barmr rim, edge

Related formsbrim·less, adjectivebrim·ming·ly, adverbun·brim·ming, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for brim on Thesaurus.com

1. See rim.

brim²

[brim]

noun, plural (especially collectively) brim, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) brims.

Southern U.S. bream¹(def 4).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for brim

Contemporary Examples

And he had a cowboy hat that he liked touching, too—he smoothed the brim back like it was a ducktail haircut.
The Stacks: Pete Dexter on What It’s Like to Lose the Knack of Having Fun
Pete Dexter
September 20, 2014
On it are balanced a plate of eggs and toast, an open quart jar of grape jelly, and a beer mug full to the brim with orange juice.
The Ridiculousness of Father's Day
P. J. O’Rourke
June 15, 2014
Just as his fingers touched the brim, his foot would kick the hat out of reach.
Oklahoma Farmers Find Ways to Cope While Waiting for Drought to End
Malcolm Jones
October 3, 2012
At times like these you must be careful not to brim over with elation-into-crashing-despair.
What the Stars Predict for Your Week
Starsky + Cox
August 20, 2011
The pale blue lining of the brim of her satin hat perfectly matched the flowers on her jacket.
The Queen's Fashion Secrets
Kate Betts
July 6, 2010

Historical Examples

He took off his hat, and showed her where the brim had a jagged tear half an inch deep.
Good Indian
B. M. Bower
The hole had been recklessly filled to the brim, and was merely sprinkled with earth.
Barnaby Rudge
Charles Dickens
He sat up, and a look of alarm peered out from under the brim of his hat.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
His thoughts were full to the brim with things that held them concentrated to the exclusion of all else.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
But in spite of snow and sleet we filled our days to the brim.
A Writer's Recollections (In Two Volumes), Volume I
Mrs. Humphry Ward

British Dictionary definitions for brim

brim

noun

the upper rim of a vesselthe brim of a cup
a projecting rim or edgethe brim of a hat
the brink or edge of something

verb brims, brimming or brimmed

to fill or be full to the brimeyes brimming with tears

Derived Formsbrimless, adjective

Word Origin

C13: from Middle High German brem, probably from Old Norse barmr; see berm

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

Word Origin and History for brim

n.

c.1200, brymme "edge of the sea," of obscure origin, perhaps akin to Old Norse barmr "rim, brim," probably related to German bräme "margin, border, fringe," from PIE *bhrem- "point, spike, edge." (Old English had brim in the sense "sea, surf," but this probably was from the Germanic stem *brem- "to roar, rage.") Extended by 1520s to cups, basins, hats.

v.

"to fill to the brim," 1610s, from brim (n.). Intransitive sense ("be full to the brim") attested from 1818. Related: Brimmed; brimming.

brim in Medicine

brim

(brĭm)

The rim of the upper opening of the pelvis.

Idioms and Phrases with brim

brim

see filled to the brim.

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Synonyms

brim2

Examples from the Web for brim

Contemporary Examples

And he had a cowboy hat that he liked touching, too—he smoothed the brim back like it was a ducktail haircut.

On it are balanced a plate of eggs and toast, an open quart jar of grape jelly, and a beer mug full to the brim with orange juice.

Just as his fingers touched the brim, his foot would kick the hat out of reach.

At times like these you must be careful not to brim over with elation-into-crashing-despair.

The pale blue lining of the brim of her satin hat perfectly matched the flowers on her jacket.

Historical Examples

He took off his hat, and showed her where the brim had a jagged tear half an inch deep.

The hole had been recklessly filled to the brim, and was merely sprinkled with earth.

He sat up, and a look of alarm peered out from under the brim of his hat.

His thoughts were full to the brim with things that held them concentrated to the exclusion of all else.

But in spite of snow and sleet we filled our days to the brim.

brim

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for brim

n.

v.

brim

Idioms and Phrases with brim

brim

brim¹

Origin of brim¹

brim²