margin

/'mɑ:dʤin/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
margin

He wrote a helpful note in the margin of his textbook.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A permissible difference; a limited amount or degree of freedom: An allowable amount of variation or leeway within set limits.
    • The blank space bordering the written or printed area on a page: The unprinted edge or border of a document.
    • (Finance) The difference between net sales revenue and the cost of goods sold: A measure of profitability, often expressed as a percentage.
    • (Finance) Collateral deposited with a broker to secure a loan for purchasing securities: The amount of equity an investor must provide when buying stocks on credit.
    • An amount or degree of difference beyond a minimum or required level: The extent by which one thing exceeds another, especially in competition.
    • The boundary or edge of something: The outer limit or border of an area or surface.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The contract allows a margin of error of 2%. (It permits a small, acceptable degree of mistake.)
    • Please write your comments in the margin of the report. (Write your notes in the blank space at the side of the page.)
    • The company's profit margin increased this quarter. (The difference between revenue and costs grew.)
    • The broker required a 50% margin to buy the stock. (The investor had to deposit 50% of the stock's value as collateral.)
    • She won the election by a narrow margin of 100 votes. (The difference in votes between her and the runner-up was very small.)
    • They built a fence along the margin of the property. (The fence was constructed at the boundary line of the land.)
Advanced Usage
  • "To have a margin for error": To have a permissible amount of room for mistakes.

    • We built extra time into the schedule to have a margin for error.
  • "Margin of safety": An extra buffer or amount beyond the minimum required to reduce risk.

    • Engineers design bridges with a significant margin of safety.
  • "By a comfortable/wide margin": By a large or decisive amount.

    • The home team won the game by a comfortable margin.
Variants and Related Words
  • Marginal (adj): Relating to or situated at a margin; very small or insignificant.
    • The difference in quality was marginal.
  • Marginalize (verb): To treat a person or group as insignificant or peripheral.
    • Policies should not marginalize minority communities.
Synonyms
  • Edge: The outside limit of an object, area, or surface.
  • Border: The boundary or outer part of something.
  • Leeway: The amount of freedom to move or act that is available.
  • Surplus: An amount of something left over when requirements have been met.
Related Phrases
  • "On the margins": At the outer limits; in a position of little importance or influence.

    • That theory exists on the margins of mainstream science.
  • "Margin call": (Finance) A broker's demand for an investor to deposit additional money or securities to bring an account up to the minimum required value.

    • He had to sell assets quickly to meet the margin call.
margin

He wrote a helpful note in the margin of his textbook.

Noun
  1. a permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits
  2. the blank space that surrounds the text on a page
    • he jotted a note in the margin
  3. (finance) the net sales minus the cost of goods and services sold
  4. the amount of collateral a customer deposits with a broker when borrowing from the broker to buy securities
  5. an amount beyond the minimum necessary
    • the margin of victory
  6. the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary