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Definition of VERGE 1 a (1) : a rod or staff carried as an emblem of authority or symbol of office (2) obsolete : a stick or wand held by a person being admitted to tenancy while he swears fealty b : the spindle of a watch balance; especially : a spindle with pallets in an old vertical escapement c : the male copulatory organ of any of various invertebrates 2 a : something that borders, limits, or bounds: as (1) : an outer margin of an object or structural part (2) : the edge of roof covering (as tiling) projecting over the gable of a roof (3) British : a paved or planted strip of land at the edge of a road : shoulder b : brink, threshold See verge defined for English-language learners » See verge defined for kids » Examples of VERGE
Origin of VERGE Middle English, rod, measuring rod, margin, from Anglo-French, rod, area of jurisdiction, from Latin virga twig, rod, line First Known Use: 15th century Related to VERGE Synonyms: brink, cusp, edge, threshold, point Definition of EDGE 1 a : the cutting side of a blade b : the sharpness of a blade c (1) : force, effectiveness (2) : vigor or energy especially of body d (1) : incisive or penetrating quality (2) : a noticeably harsh or sharp quality (3) : a secondary but distinct quality e : keenness or intensity of desire or enjoyment 2 a : the line where an object or area begins or ends : border b : the narrow part adjacent to a border c (1) : a point near the beginning or the end; especially : brink, verge (2) : the threshold of danger or ruin d : a favorable margin : advantage 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 : anxious, nervous See edge defined for English-language learners » See edge defined for kids » Examples of EDGE They peered over the edge of the roof. The fabric was frayed at the edge. He made us all nervous by standing so close to the edge of the cliff. She sat on the edge of the counter, swinging her legs. the edge of an ax His voice had a sarcastic edge. Her writing seem to have lost its edge. These amendments will blunt the edge of the legislation. Origin of EDGE Middle English egge, from Old English ecg; akin to Latin acer sharp, Greek akmē point First Known Use: before 12th century Related to EDGE Synonyms: acerbity, acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimoniousness, acrimony, acuteness, asperity, bite, bitterness, harshness, keenness, poignance, poignancy, pungency, roughness, sharpness, tartness Antonyms: mildness, softness
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