the part or edge of a surface or area that forms its outer boundary.
the line, limit, or delimiting geographic feature that separates one country, state, province, etc., from another: The largest lake within the borders of Canada is Great Bear Lake.
You cannot cross the border without a visa.
The largest lake within the borders of Canada is Great Bear Lake.
the district or region that lies along the boundary line of another.
the frontier of civilization.
the border,
the border between the United States and Mexico, especially along the Rio Grande.
(in the British Isles) the region along the boundary between England and Scotland.
an ornamental strip or design around the edge of a printed page, a drawing, etc.
an ornamental design or piece of ornamental trimming around the edge of a fabric, rug, garment, article of furniture, etc.
Horticulture.
a long, narrow bed planted with flowers, shrubs, or trees.
a strip of ground in which plants are grown, enclosing an area in a garden or running along the edge of a walk or driveway.
the plants growing in such a strip.
a border of tulips along the path.
Theater.
a narrow curtain or strip of painted canvas hung above the stage, masking the flies and lighting units, and forming the top of the stage set.
to make a border around; adorn with a border.
to form a border or boundary to.
to lie on the border of; adjoin.
to form or constitute a border; be next to.
California borders on the Pacific Ocean.
to approach closely in character; verge.
The situation borders on tragedy.
a band or margin around or along the edge of something
the dividing line or frontier between political or geographic regions
a region straddling such a boundary
( as modifier )
border country
a design or ornamental strip around the edge or rim of something, such as a printed page or dinner plate
( as modifier )
a border illustration
a long narrow strip of ground planted with flowers, shrubs, trees, etc, that skirts a path or wall or surrounds a lawn or other area
a herbaceous border
(tr) to decorate or provide with a border
to be adjacent (to); lie along the boundary (of)
his land borders on mine
to be nearly the same (as); verge (on)
his stupidity borders on madness
(often plural) the area straddling the border between England and Scotland
the area straddling the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
the region in S South Africa around East London
What does border mean? A border is the outer edge of a surface or image that marks its boundary in reference to others, such as a border you draw around a picture. A border is also a line that acts as a boundary between two or more geographic areas, whether it’s small areas, like between neighbors on the same street, or large areas, like between countries. To border often means to create a border, as on a picture. To border can also mean to form a border or to be next to one, as in Maine borders New Hampshire to the west and south and Canada to the north and east. Example: The border around the image is quite interesting, but I don’t think it fits the piece.
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English bordure, from Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to bord(er) “to border” (derivative of bord “ship's side, edge,” from Germanic; see board) + -ure noun suffix; see -ure
When you cross a border from one country into another, you'll need to show your identification papers and maybe a visa to the border patrol officials. A border separates one thing from another, most famously countries. Sometimes neighboring countries have border disputes, if they don't think the lines were drawn fairly or if they don't get along. Borders can also be less official. You might want to plant a border of cabbages along your front walk, or you could sew a border of sequins along the edge of your collar. But you'd have to go easy on the sequins, as too many would "border on the garish."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The easing of cattle crossings at the southern border could help the U.S. offset low herd counts that in January were pegged at a 75-year low.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
They take advantage of Ecuador's weak border controls, underfunded security forces, and long Pacific coast.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The park and its surrounds are known as the Amboseli ecosystem, a vast area that straddles the border with Tanzania, which is famous for its wildlife.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Those who crossed the border illegally or who are undocumented can apply after being placed into removal proceedings, where they make their case to an immigration judge.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
The same Household Finance that had pushed Steve Eisman over the narrow border between Wall Street skeptic and Wall Street cynic.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Each day, people adjusted to federal movement, ICE and Customs and Border Protection adjusted to being watched, and people adjusted again.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Customs and Border Protection likewise boasted its July 1 report “shows our highest level of compliance to date.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Border Patrol agents working to remove violent criminals from our country, U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Another demonstrator, Alex Pretti, was killed by US Customs and Border Protection officers later that month, as Minneapolis residents turned out in force to protest anti-immigrant raids.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
These shouters scare me to the bone, they seem so much like the polis and Border Patrol—those bad ones who tried to stop me.
From "Beast Rider" by Tony Johnston & María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads
More recently, the anti-citizenship protests were marked by murals and public readings of the Constitution, while the farmers' movement became synonymous with tractor rallies and livestreams from Delhi's borders.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Parbake until the borders have risen and begun to turn golden.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
Ituri borders South Sudan and Uganda, which has reported 20 cases, including two deaths.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
From there, they flow up the Oubangui River to the Central African Republic, where remnants of the Wagner mercenary group control their distribution through the country—and sometimes across its borders to neighboring nations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
Jones was a valuable and mysterious secret agent operating along the watery borders between Union and Confederate territory.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
The KBV, a national association representing statutory health insurance physicians, said that it "bordered on madness" to force thousands of people to visit doctors' surgeries simply to fill in forms.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
The cars are connected to charging points by the garages for the flats, which are in traditional red buildings bordered by birch trees and a large golf course.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
District 5 is roughly bordered by the 405 Freeway on the west, Venice Boulevard on the south, Mulholland Drive on the north and stretching as far east as Western Avenue.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
While some winning coaches were making their names with toughness that bordered on abuse, he urged Close to see her teams as human beings first, not X’s and O’s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026
An expression flashed across Celaena’s eyes that bordered on fear and confusion.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
With her bright-eyed inquisitiveness bordering on tactlessness, and Harry Potter T-shirt, Cheryl-Ann comes close to being a caricature of a crass tourist, and is treated as such with cool disdain by Orla.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
Thirteen of the 17 regions of neighbouring Spain were on orange alert on Sunday, while the northern Basque Country bordering France was on red alert.
From Barron's ● Jun. 21, 2026
Still, some see these plans as bordering on science fiction.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 12, 2026
The center bordering the preserve recently recorded its hottest March — by far — with a mean temperature of 11 degrees above average, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
There were one, two, three smaller holes bordering the top of the hole where Seven stood.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
