margin

[ mahr-jin ]

/ ˈmɑr dʒɪn /

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noun

the space around the printed or written matter on a page.

an amount allowed or available beyond what is actually necessary: to allow a margin for error.

a limit in condition, capacity, etc., beyond or below which something ceases to exist, be desirable, or be possible: the margin of endurance; the margin of sanity.

a border or edge.

Philately. selvage(def 3).

Finance.

security, as a percentage in money, deposited with a broker by a client as a provision against loss on transactions.
the amount representing the customer's investment or equity in such an account.

the difference between the amount of a loan and the market value of the collateral pledged as security for it.

Commerce. the difference between the cost and the selling price.

an amount or degree of difference: The measure passed by a margin of just three votes.

Economics. the point at which the return from economic activity barely covers the cost of production, and below which production is unprofitable.

Entomology. the border of an insect's wing.

verb (used with object)

to provide with a margin or border.

to furnish with marginal notes, as a document.

to enter in the margin, as of a book.

Finance. to deposit a margin upon.

Stock Exchange. to purchase (securities) on margin: That stock was heavily margined during the last month.

Nearby words

margelan, margent, margery, margherita, margie, margin, margin account, margin call, margin line, margin of safety, margin plank

Origin of margin

1300–50; Middle English < Latin margin- (stem of margō) border; akin to march²

SYNONYMS FOR margin

3 confine, bound.

4 rim, verge, brink.

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ANTONYMS FOR margin

4 center.

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Synonym study

4. See edge.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for margin

Sixty-seven Republicans voted against it, a margin in line with estimates of many conservatives from earlier in the day.
‘Cromnibus’ Passes, But Did Anyone Win?|Ben Jacobs|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We believe in Him by a landslide 74 percent to 26 percent margin.
Up to a Point: Thanks to the Biggest Turkey, Uncle Sam|P. J. O’Rourke|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the end, Shumlin led by a puny 2,434 votes, less than the 50 percent margin needed for victory under Vermont law.
What the Hell Happened in Vermont?!|Stuart Stevens|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That sounds pretty impressive, until you consider that, just two years earlier, in 2012, the margin was 44 percent.
Latinos Aren’t a ‘Cheap Date’ for Democrats Anymore|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

By a margin of 63 percent to 37 percent, Colorado voters rejected the “personhood” measure.
How’d the GOP Win? By Running Left|Sally Kohn|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And if you look into these pools from above, you may often see it clinging to the rocks round the margin.
The Animal World, A Book of Natural History|Theodore Wood
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
The universal veil, if present at all, is seen only on the margin of the pileus like frost or silky dew.
The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise|M. E. Hard
Some distance up the lake, and close to its margin, is the farm of Mr. McDonnell, thus forming an exception to the general rule.
Lands of the Slave and the Free|Henry A. Murray
Arrange your provision packages on the blanket a foot or so from one end and with a margin of a foot or more on either side.
Packing and Portaging|Dillon Wallace

British Dictionary definitions for margin

margin

archaic margent (ˈmɑːdʒənt)

/ (ˈmɑːdʒɪn) /

noun

an edge or rim, and the area immediately adjacent to it; border

the blank space surrounding the text on a page

a vertical line on a page, esp one on the left-hand side, delineating this space

an additional amount or one beyond the minimum necessarya margin of error

mainly Australian a payment made in addition to a basic wage, esp for special skill or responsibility

a bound or limit

the amount by which one thing differs from anothera large margin separated the parties

commerce the profit on a transaction

economics the minimum return below which an enterprise becomes unprofitable

finance

collateral deposited by a client with a broker as security
the excess of the value of a loan's collateral over the value of the loan

verb (tr)

to provide with a margin; border

finance to deposit a margin upon

Word Origin for margin

C14: from Latin margō border; related to march ², mark 1

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

Medicine definitions for margin

margin

[ mär′jĭn ]

n.

A border or edge, as of an organ.

A limit in a condition or process, beyond or below which something is no longer possible or acceptable.

An amount that is allowed but that is beyond what is needed.

A measure, quantity, or degree of difference.

margin

noun

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of margin

SYNONYMS FOR margin

ANTONYMS FOR margin

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for margin

British Dictionary definitions for margin

margin

archaic margent (ˈmɑːdʒənt)

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for margin

Medicine definitions for margin

margin

n.