EDGE


Meaning of EDGE in English

I. ˈej noun

Etymology: Middle English egge, from Old English ecg; akin to Latin acer sharp, Greek akmē point

Date: before 12th century

1.

a. : the cutting side of a blade

a razor's edge

b. : the sharpness of a blade

a knife with no edge

c.

(1) : force , effectiveness

blunted the edge of the legislation

(2) : vigor or energy especially of body

maintains his hard edge

d.

(1) : incisive or penetrating quality

writing with a satirical edge

(2) : a noticeably harsh or sharp quality

her voice had an edge to it

(3) : a secondary but distinct quality

rock music with a bluesy edge

e. : keenness or intensity of desire or enjoyment

lost my competitive edge

took the edge off our appetites

2.

a. : the line where an object or area begins or ends : border

on the edge of a plain

b. : the narrow part adjacent to a border

the edge of the deck

c.

(1) : a point near the beginning or the end ; especially : brink , verge

on the edge of disaster

(2) : the threshold of danger or ruin

living on the edge

d. : a favorable margin : advantage

has an edge on the competition

3. : a line or line segment that is the intersection of two plane faces (as of a pyramid) or of two planes

• edge·less adjective

- on edge

II. verb

( edged ; edg·ing )

Date: 14th century

transitive verb

1.

a. : to give an edge to

b. : to be on an edge of

trees edging the lake

2. : to move or force gradually

edged him off the road

3. : to incline (a ski) sideways so that one edge cuts into the snow

4. : to defeat by a small margin — often used with out

edged out her opponent

intransitive verb

: to advance by short moves

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.