I. ˈmär-jən noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin margin-, margo border — more at mark
Date: 14th century
1. : the part of a page or sheet outside the main body of printed or written matter
2. : the outside limit and adjoining surface of something : edge
at the margin of the woods
continental margin
3.
a. : a spare amount or measure or degree allowed or given for contingencies or special situations
left no margin for error
b.
(1) : a bare minimum below which or an extreme limit beyond which something becomes impossible or is no longer desirable
on the margin of good taste
(2) : the limit below which economic activity cannot be continued under normal conditions
c. : an area, state, or condition excluded from or existing outside the mainstream
the margin s of critical discourse — Barbara L. Packer
living in society's margin s
4.
a. : the difference which exists between net sales and the cost of merchandise sold and from which expenses are usually met or profit derived
b. : the excess market value of collateral over the face of a loan
c.
(1) : cash or collateral that is deposited by a client with a commodity or securities broker to protect the broker from loss on a contract
(2) : the client's equity in securities bought with the aid of credit obtained specifically (as from a broker) for that purpose
d. : a range about a specified figure within which a purchase is to be made
5. : measure or degree of difference
the bill passed by a one-vote margin
• mar·gined -jənd adjective
II. transitive verb
Date: 1715
1.
a. : to provide with an edging or border
b. : to form a margin to : border
2.
a. : to add margin to
margin up an account
b.
(1) : to use as margin
margin bonds to buy stock
(2) : to provide margin for
margin a transaction
c. : to buy (securities) on margin