/ frɪndʒ; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] ( BrE ) ( NAmE bangs [ pl. ]) the front part of sb's hair that is cut so that it hangs over their forehead
2.
[ C ] a strip of hanging threads attached to the edge of sth to decorate it
3.
[ C ] a narrow strip of trees, buildings, etc. along the edge of sth :
a fringe of woodland
Along the coast, an industrial fringe had already developed.
4.
[ C ] ( BrE ) the outer edge of an area or a group :
on the northern fringe of the city
the urban / rural fringe
the fringes of society
Nina remained on the fringe of the crowd.
5.
[ sing. ] (usually the fringe ) groups of people, events and activities that are not part of the main group or activity :
Street musicians have been gathering as part of the festival fringe.
fringe meetings at the party conference
•
IDIOMS
see lunatic adjective
■ verb
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to form a border around sth :
The beach was fringed by coconut palms.
► fringed adjective :
a carpet with a fringed edge
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French frenge , based on late Latin fimbria , earlier a plural noun meaning fibres, shreds.