(~s, edging, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
The ~ of something is the place or line where it stops, or the part of it that is furthest from the middle.
We were on a hill, right on the ~ of town...
She was standing at the water’s ~...
N-COUNT: usu with supp
2.
The ~ of something sharp such as a knife or an axe is its sharp or narrow side.
...the sharp ~ of the sword.
N-COUNT: usu with supp
3.
If someone or something ~s somewhere, they move very slowly in that direction.
He ~d closer to the telephone, ready to grab it...
VERB: V prep/adv
4.
The ~ of something, especially something bad, is the point at which it may start to happen.
They have driven the rhino to the ~ of extinction...
= verge, brink
N-SING: usu the N of n
5.
If someone or something has an ~, they have an advantage that makes them stronger or more likely to be successful than another thing or person.
The three days France have to prepare could give them the ~ over England...
Through superior production techniques they were able to gain the competitive ~.
= advantage
N-SING: oft N over n, N in n/-ing
6.
If you say that someone or something has an ~, you mean that they have a powerful quality.
Featuring new bands gives the show an ~...
Greene’s stories had an ~ of realism.
N-SING: a N
7.
If someone’s voice has an ~ to it, it has a sharp, bitter, or emotional quality.
But underneath the humour is an ~ of bitterness...
N-SING: oft N of n, N to n
8.
see also cutting ~ , knife-~ , leading ~
9.
If you or your nerves are on ~, you are tense, nervous, and unable to relax.
My nerves were constantly on ~.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
10.
If you say that someone is on the ~ of their seat or chair, you mean that they are very interested in what is happening or what is going to happen.
PHRASE: N inflects, usu v-link PHR, v PHR
11.
If something takes the ~ off a situation, usually an unpleasant one, it weakens its effect or intensity.
A spell of poor health took the ~ off her performance.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n
12.
to set your teeth on ~: see tooth