rim

[ rim ]

/ rɪm /

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See synonyms for: rim / rimmed / rimming / rims on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

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

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

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

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

Journalism. the outer edge of a usually U-shaped copy desk, occupied by the copyreaders.Compare slot¹ (def. 5b).

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

verb (used with object), rimmed, rim·ming.

to furnish with a rim, border, or margin.

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

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

to coat or encrust the rim of (a glass): Rim each cocktail glass with salt.

OTHER WORDS FOR rim

1 lip, verge.

See synonyms for rim on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR rim

1 center.

See antonyms for rim on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of rim

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

synonym study for rim

1. 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 WORDS FROM rim

rimless, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rim in a sentence

I find my glasses and look at Pimples over the rims with my best grounded-for-life glare.
The Ridiculousness of Father's Day|P. J. O’Rourke|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As Hudson vainly tried to save Lopez, the Honda roared away on just the wheel rims.
Cop Who Protected Obama, Romney, at Debate Latest Victim of Illegal Guns|Michael Daly|October 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In his haste to flee, he had dropped his owlish horn rims, his wallet, and false teeth.
The Killing of Guerrilla Leader Boosts Violence-Weary Colombia|Mac Margolis|November 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The grey eyes that looked over those gold rims were remarkable.
Mushroom Town|Oliver Onions

A new set of rims for the fly wheels was made by constructing them of an aluminum casting, the section of the rim being U-shaped.
Langley Memoir on Mechanical Flight, Parts I and II|S. P. (Samuel Pierpont) Langley and Charles M. (Charles Matthews) Manly
The l sounds, the narrowing for which is between the side rim or rims of the tongue and the side teeth (lateral formation).
The Sounds of Spoken English|Walter Rippmann
The plants being re-potted, plunge them in the bark-bed again, quite down to the rims of the pots, keeping them perfectly level.
The different modes of cultivating the pine-apple|John Claudius Loudon
The distant rims of the world and of the firmament seemed to be a division in time no less than a division in matter.
Return of the Native|Thomas Hardy

British Dictionary definitions for rim (1 of 2)

rim

/ (rɪm) /

noun

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

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

basketball the hoop from which the net is suspended

verb rims, rimming or rimmed (tr)

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

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

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

Word Origin for rim

Old English rima; related to Old Saxon rimi, Old Norse rimi ridge

British Dictionary definitions for rim (2 of 2)

RIM

abbreviation for

Mauritania (international car registration)

Word Origin for RIM

From République Islamique de Mauritanie

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