fringe

[ frinj ]

/ frɪndʒ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fringe ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

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.

Nearby words

frilled lizard, frilling, frilly, frimaire, friml, fringe, fringe area, fringe benefit, fringe tree, fringe-toed lizard, fringed gentian

Origin of fringe

1325–75; Middle English frenge < Old French (French frange) < Vulgar Latin *frimbia, metathetic variant of Late Latin fimbria, Latin fimbriae fringe

SYNONYMS FOR fringe

2 edge, border, skirt, rim.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fringe ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

fringe·less, adjectivefringe·like, adjectivefring·y, adjectiveun·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. 2019

Examples from the Web for fringe

The Five Percent Nation of Islam was there as well as fringe Stalinist groups.
Sharpton Recalls Civil Rights Struggle in DC March Against Police Violence|Ben Jacobs|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
GALLERY: 'JUSTICE FOR ALL' MARCH IN WASHINGTON DC There were plenty of representatives of the fringe too.
Sharpton Recalls Civil Rights Struggle in DC March Against Police Violence|Ben Jacobs|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unlike Cosby, who had only a fringe of gray hair left, he still sported a silver mane.
Why Comedians Still Think Bill Cosby Is a Genius|Mark Whitaker|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We may be beset by deep political divisions, but the moderate, outward-looking center is large; not a fringe section of society.
Beirut Letter: In Lebanon, Fighting ISIS With Culture and Satire|Kim Ghattas|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The senator disappointed his fringe, libertarian followers with his support of airstrikes.
Rand Paul’s Fans Hate His ISIS Plan|Olivia Nuzzi|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He laughed at last, though a little anxiously as he saw a fringe of tiny drops gather on her hair; and he let her have her way.
The Prodigal Father|J. Storer Clouston
A giant sycamore in the middle cast a welcome shadow in the brilliant sunshine, and a fringe of willows encircled it.
Clover and Blue Grass|Eliza Calvert Hall
From the road you perceive, skirting the loch on the other side, what seems a fringe of very small bushes.
Scottish Loch Scenery|Thomas A. Croal
The play-acting and gaming was only the fringe that Society had tacked on to him.
The Yeoman Adventurer|George W. Gough
Then he turned toward it, still cautiously leading Silvermane under cover of the fringe of cedars.
The Heritage of the Desert|Zane Grey

British Dictionary definitions for fringe

fringe

/ (frɪndʒ) /

noun

an edging consisting of hanging threads, tassels, etc

an outer edge; periphery
(as modifier)fringe dwellers; a fringe area

(modifier) unofficial; not conventional in formfringe 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

verb (tr)

to adorn or fit with a fringe or fringes

to be a fringe forfur fringes the satin

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012