outskirts

/'autskə:ts/

Thân thiện

They decided to build their new house on the outskirts of the city.

Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • The outer parts or edges of a city, town, or populated area; the areas that are on the border between the main urban center and the surrounding countryside.
   • By extension, the outer edges or fringes of any group, gathering, or area.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • They built a new house on the outskirts of the city, where it's quieter.
  • The factory is located on the northern outskirts of town.
  • We stayed in a hotel on the outskirts, so it took a while to reach the downtown museums.

Advanced Usage

• "On the outskirts of": This is the standard prepositional phrase used with this word. It indicates location at the outer boundary of a place.
  • The university campus lies on the outskirts of the capital.
• Figurative Use: The word can be used metaphorically to describe being at the periphery of a concept, group, or activity.
  • His theories were always on the outskirts of mainstream scientific thought.
  • She preferred to remain on the outskirts of the political debate.

Variants and Related Words

• Outskirt (noun, rare): Occasionally used in the singular form, though the plural "outskirts" is vastly more common.
• Suburb (noun): A residential area on the outskirts of a city. (Note: "Suburb" often implies a distinct residential community, while "outskirts" is a more general term for the outer area.)
• Periphery (noun): The outer limits or edge of an area or object; often used in both literal and figurative contexts similar to "outskirts."
• Fringe (noun): The outer, marginal, or extreme part of an area, group, or sphere of activity.

Synonyms

• Periphery
• Fringe
• Border
• Edge (of a town/city)
• Suburbs (in some contexts)

Antonyms

• Center
• Heart
• Core
• Downtown
• Middle

Common Phrases and Collocations

• Live on the outskirts: To reside in the outer areas of a city or town.
  • My grandparents live on the outskirts and enjoy having a large garden.
• On the very outskirts: Emphasizing that something is located at the extreme outer edge.
  • The airport is on the very outskirts of the metropolitan area.

Học thuật

Noun

1. outlying areas (as of a city or town)
   • they lived on the outskirts of Houston
   • they mingled in the outskirts of the crowd