edge
Pronunciation: (ej), [key]
— n., v., edged, edg•ing.
—n.
- a line or border at which a surface terminates: Grass grew along the edges of the road. The paper had deckle edges.
- a brink or verge: the edge of a cliff; the edge of disaster.
- any of the narrow surfaces of a thin, flat object: a book with gilt edges.
- a line at which two surfaces of a solid object meet: an edge of a box.
- the thin, sharp side of the blade of a cutting instrument or weapon.
- the sharpness proper to a blade: The knife has lost its edge.
- sharpness or keenness of language, argument, tone of voice, appetite, desire, etc.: The snack took the edge off his hunger. Her voice had an edge to it.
- a hill or cliff.
- an improved position; advantage: He gained the edge on his opponent.
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- advantage, esp. the advantage gained by being the age or eldest hand.
- Seeeldest hand.
- one of the two edges of a skate blade where the sides meet the bottom surface, made sharp by carving a groove on the bottom.
- one of the two edges on the bottom of a ski that is angled into a slope when making a turn.
- to be mildly intoxicated with alcoholic liquor: He had a pleasant edge on from the sherry.
- The contestants were on edge to learn the results.
- (of a person or a person's nerves) acutely sensitive; nervous; tense.
- impatient; eager:The contestants were on edge to learn the results.
- See(def. 18).
—v.t.
- to put an edge on; sharpen.
- to provide with an edge or border: to edge a terrace with shrubbery; to edge a skirt with lace.
- to make or force (one's way) gradually by moving sideways.
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- to turn (a piece to be rolled) onto its edge.
- to roll (a piece set on edge).
- to give (a piece) a desired width by passing between vertical rolls.
- to rough (a piece being forged) so that the bulk is properly distributed for final forging.
—v.i.
- to move sideways: to edge through a crowd.
- to advance gradually or cautiously: a car edging up to a curb.
- to insert or work in or into, esp. in a limited period of time: Can you edge in your suggestion before they close the discussion?
- to defeat (rivals or opponents) by a small margin: The home team edged out the visitors in an exciting finish.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.