edge Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the boundary of a surface
    border.
  2. noun a line determining the limits of an area
    boundary; bound.
  3. noun a sharp side formed by the intersection of two surfaces of an object
    • he rounded the edges of the box
  4. noun the attribute of urgency in tone of voice
    sharpness.
    • his voice had an edge to it
  5. noun a slight competitive advantage
    • he had an edge on the competition
  6. noun the outside limit of an object or area or surface; a place farthest away from the center of something
    • the edge of the leaf is wavy
    • she sat on the edge of the bed
    • the water's edge
  7. verb advance slowly, as if by inches
    inch.
    • He edged towards the car
  8. verb provide with a border or edge
    border.
    • edge the tablecloth with embroidery
  9. verb lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
    march; abut; adjoin; butt; butt against; border; butt on.
    • Canada adjoins the U.S.
    • England marches with Scotland
  10. verb provide with an edge
    • edge a blade

WordNet

Edge noun
Etymology
OE. eg, egge, AS. ecg; akin to OHG. ekka, G. ecke, Icel. & Sw. egg, Dan. eg, and to L. acies, Gr. point, Skr. ari edge. . Cf. Egg, v. t., Eager, Ear spike of corn, Acute.
Definitions
  1. The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument; as, the edge of an ax, knife, sword, or scythe. Hence, figuratively, that which cuts as an edge does, or wounds deeply, etc.
    He which hath the sharp sword with two edges. Rev. ii. 12.
    Slander, Whose edge is sharper than the sword. Shak.
  2. Any sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; extreme verge; as, the edge of a table, a precipice.
    Upon the edge of yonder coppice. Shak.
    In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Of battle. Milton.
    Pursue even to the very edge of destruction. Sir W. Scott.
  3. Sharpness; readiness of fitness to cut; keenness; intenseness of desire.
    The full edge of our indignation. Sir W. Scott.
    Death and persecution lose all the ill that they can have, if we do not set an edge upon them by our fears and by our vices. Jer. Taylor.
  4. The border or part adjacent to the line of division; the beginning or early part; as, in the edge of evening. "On the edge of winter." Milton. Bacon.
Edge transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Edged ; present participle & verbal noun Edging
Definitions
  1. To furnish with an edge as a tool or weapon; to sharpen.
    To edge her champion's sword. Dryden.
  2. To shape or dress the edge of, as with a tool.
  3. To furnish with a fringe or border; as, to edge a dress; to edge a garden with box.
    Hills whose tops were edged with groves. Pope.
  4. To make sharp or keen, figuratively; to incite; to exasperate; to goad; to urge or egg on. Obs.
    By such reasonings, the simple were blinded, and the malicious edged. Hayward.
  5. To move by little and little or cautiously, as by pressing forward edgewise; as, edging their chairs forwards. Locke.
Edge intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To move sideways; to move gradually; as, edge along this way.
  2. To sail close to the wind.
    I must edge up on a point of wind. Dryden.

Webster 1913