edge
/edʤ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- The outer limit or boundary of an object, area, or surface: The part that is farthest from the center.
- A slight advantage or superiority: A small but often critical lead in a competitive situation.
- A sharpness or intensity in tone or quality: A noticeable sharpness, often in a voice, indicating urgency, anger, or tension.
- The line where two surfaces of an object meet: The intersection forming a border, often a sharp one.
Verb:
- To provide with a border or trim: To put an edge on something.
- To move gradually or cautiously: To advance or retreat slowly and carefully.
- To be situated on or along the border of: To be adjacent to.
Usage and Examples
Noun:
- She carefully walked along the edge of the cliff. (The outer limit of the cliff.)
- His experience gave him an edge in the job interview. (A slight competitive advantage.)
- There was a sharp edge to her voice when she replied. (A quality of intensity or urgency in tone.)
- He sanded the rough edge of the wooden table. (The line where two surfaces meet.)
Verb:
- The gardener edged the lawn with bricks. (Provided with a border.)
- The cat edged closer to the bird. (Moved gradually and cautiously.)
- Our property edges the national forest. (Is situated along the border of.)
Advanced Usage
"to be on edge": To be nervous, tense, or irritable.
- The constant noise had everyone on edge.
"to have the edge on/over someone/something": To have a slight advantage over someone or something.
- The home team had the edge over the visitors due to their familiarity with the field.
"to take the edge off": To make something less intense, severe, or unpleasant.
- A small snack took the edge off his hunger before dinner.
Variants and Related Words
Edging (n): A border or trimming.
- The lace edging on the curtain was delicate.
Edgy (adj): Nervous, tense, or irritable; at the forefront of a trend.
- She felt edgy before her big presentation. (Nervous)
- His taste in music is very edgy. (Innovative, avant-garde)
Synonyms
- Noun (boundary): Border, rim, brink, perimeter, margin.
- Noun (advantage): Advantage, upper hand, lead.
- Verb (move cautiously): Inch, creep, sidle, steal.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Edge away: To move away slowly and carefully, especially from something unpleasant or dangerous.
- He began to edge away from the angry crowd.
Edge out: To defeat or surpass someone by a small margin; to gradually force someone or something out.
- The new company edged out its older competitors.
Related Idioms
Cutting edge: The most advanced stage of development; the forefront of innovation.
- This research is at the cutting edge of medical science.
On the edge of one's seat: Very excited and giving one's full attention to something.
- The thrilling movie had us on the edge of our seats.
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
- a slight competitive advantage
- he had an edge on the competition
- the attribute of urgency in tone of voice
- his voice had an edge to it
- a sharp side formed by the intersection of two surfaces of an object
- he rounded the edges of the box
- a line determining the limits of an area
- the boundary of a surface
Verb
- provide with an edge
- edge a blade
- lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
- Canada adjoins the U.S.
- England marches with Scotland
- provide with a border or edge
- edge the tablecloth with embroidery
- advance slowly, as if by inches
- He edged towards the car