Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for fringe on Thesaurus.com a decorative border of thread, cord, or the like, usually hanging loosely from a raveled edge or separate strip. anything resembling or suggesting this: a fringe of grass around a swimming pool. an outer edge; margin; periphery: on the fringe of the art world. something regarded as peripheral, marginal, secondary, or extreme in relation to something else: the lunatic fringe of a strong political party. Optics one of the alternate light and dark bands produced by diffraction or interference. fringe benefit .Show More
verb (used with object), fringed, fring·ing. to furnish with or as if with a fringe. to serve as a fringe for, or to be arranged around or along so as to suggest a fringe: armed guards fringing the building. Show More
Origin of fringe 1325–75; Middle English frenge < Old French (French frange ) < Vulgar Latin *frimbia, metathetic variant of Late Latin fimbria, Latin fimbriae fringe
Related forms fringe·less , adjective fringe·like , adjective fring·y , adjective un·der·fringe , noun un·fringe , verb (used with object), un·fringed, un·fring·ing. Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for fringe perimeter ,
outskirts ,
edge ,
periphery ,
verge ,
hem ,
skirt ,
brink ,
march ,
borderline ,
edging ,
binding ,
outside ,
limit ,
brim ,
ruffle ,
flounce ,
margin ,
tassel ,
rickrack Examples from the Web for fringe Contemporary Examples of fringe The Five Percent Nation of Islam was there as well as fringe Stalinist groups.
GALLERY: 'JUSTICE FOR ALL' MARCH IN WASHINGTON DC There were plenty of representatives of the fringe too.
Unlike Cosby, who had only a fringe of gray hair left, he still sported a silver mane.
We may be beset by deep political divisions, but the moderate, outward-looking center is large; not a fringe section of society.
The senator disappointed his fringe , libertarian followers with his support of airstrikes.
Historical Examples of fringe But the fringe did not reach to the ground and under the bush, in its dark interior.
Dissembling her displeasure, she praised the hammer-cloth, and especially the fringe .
One might edge a wall-paper or fringe a robe with a recurring decimal.
A fringe of ice had formed during the night along the shore.
The woods leaned over the fringe of bushes cool and green and silent.
British Dictionary definitions for fringe an edging consisting of hanging threads, tassels, etc an outer edge; periphery (as modifier ) fringe dwellers ; a fringe area (modifier) unofficial; not conventional in form fringe theatre mainly British a section of the front hair cut short over the forehead an ornamental border or margin physics any of the light and dark or coloured bands produced by diffraction or interference of light Show More
to adorn or fit with a fringe or fringes to be a fringe for fur fringes the satin Show More
Derived Forms fringeless , adjective Word Origin for fringe C14: from Old French frenge , ultimately from Latin fimbria fringe, border; see fimbria
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for fringe n. early 14c., from Old French frenge "thread, strand, fringe, hem" (early 14c.), from Vulgar Latin *frimbia , metathesis of Latin fimbriae (plural) "fibers, threads, fringe," of uncertain origin. Figurative sense of "outer edge, margin," is first recorded 1894. Related: Fringes . Fringe benefits is recorded from 1952.
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v. late 15c., from fringe (n.). Related: Fringed ; fringing .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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