rim

American  

[rim] / rɪm /

noun

1. the outer edge, border, margin, or brink of something, especially of a circular object.

   Synonyms:

   verge, lip

   Antonyms:

   center

2. any edge, margin, or frame added to or around a central object or area.

3. the outer circle of a wheel, attached to the hub by spokes.

4. a circular strip of metal forming the connection between an automobile wheel and tire, either permanently attached to or removable from the wheel.

5. a drive wheel or flywheel, as on a spinning mule.

6. Basketball. the metal ring from which the net is suspended to form the basket.

7. Journalism. the outer edge of a usually U -shaped copy desk, occupied by the copyreaders.

8. Metallurgy. (in an ingot) an outer layer of metal having a composition different from that of the center.

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verb (used with object)

rimmed, rimming

1. to furnish with a rim, border, or margin.

2. (of a golf ball or putt) to roll around the edge of (a hole) but not go in.

3. Basketball. (of a basketball) to roll around (the rim of the basket) and not go in.

4. to coat or encrust the rim of (a glass).

   Rim each cocktail glass with salt.

rim ¹ British  

/ rɪm /

noun

1. the raised edge of an object, esp of something more or less circular such as a cup or crater

2. the peripheral part of a wheel, to which the tyre is attached

3. basketball the hoop from which the net is suspended

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verb

1. to put a rim on (a pot, cup, wheel, etc)

2. slang to lick, kiss, or suck the anus of (one's sexual partner)

3. ball games (of a ball) to run around the edge of (a hole, basket, etc)

RIM ² British  

abbreviation

1. Mauritania (international car registration)

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Related Words

Rim, brim refer to the boundary of a circular or curved area. A rim is a line or surface bounding such an area; an edge or border: the rim of a glass. Brim usually means the inside of the rim, at the top of a hollow object (except of a hat), and is used particularly when the object contains something: The cup was filled to the brim.

Other Word Forms

• rimless adjective

Etymology

Origin of rim

First recorded before 1150; Middle English; Old English -rima (in compounds); cognate with Old Norse rimi “raised strip of land, ridge”

Example Sentences

She added a thick black-and-white band above the ragged stitches and finished the blond rim with the traditional contrasting ticking.

From Los Angeles Times

It all started with an inability to finish at the rim.

From Los Angeles Times

Water gathered in low-lying valleys and river channels, overflowed crater rims, and rushed through canyons.

From Science Daily

Jamerson played only seven choppy minutes, once being yanked after an 11-second stint because of an inability to keep the Highlanders from reaching the rim with ease.

From Los Angeles Times

Wembanyama was an adequate shooter, making 35% of his triples last year, but observers couldn’t help but feel that it was a waste to station basketball’s tallest giant 25 feet away from the rim.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• fringe
• ledge
• lip
• perimeter
• periphery