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marginal

 - 5 dictionary results

mar⋅gin⋅al

  [mahr-juh-nl]
Use marginal in a Sentence
–adjective
1. pertaining to a margin.
2. situated on the border or edge.
3. at the outer or lower limits; minimal for requirements; almost insufficient: marginal subsistence; marginal ability.
4. written or printed in the margin of a page: a marginal note.
5. Sociology. marked by contact with disparate cultures, and acquiring some but not all the traits or values common to any one of them.
6. Economics.
a. selling goods at a price that just equals the additional cost of producing the last unit supplied.
b. of or pertaining to goods produced and marketed at margin: marginal profits.
Origin:
1570–80; < ML marginālis of, pertaining to an edge. See margin, -al 1

Related forms:
mar⋅gin⋅al⋅i⋅ty, noun
mar⋅gin⋅al⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To marginal
mar·gin·al   (mär'jə-nəl)   
adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, located at, or constituting a margin, a border, or an edge: the marginal strip of beach; a marginal issue that had no bearing on the election results.

  2. Being adjacent geographically: states marginal to Canada.

  3. Written or printed in the margin of a book: marginal notes.

  4. Barely within a lower standard or limit of quality: marginal writing ability; eked out a marginal existence.

  5. Economics

    1. Having to do with enterprises that produce goods or are capable of producing goods at a rate that barely covers production costs.

    2. Relating to commodities thus manufactured and sold.

  6. Psychology Relating to or located at the fringe of consciousness.

n.  One that is considered to be at a lower or outer limit, as of social acceptability: "is fascinated by marginals, by people who live on the edge of society" (Dan Yakir).
mar'gin·al'i·ty (-jə-nāl'ĭ-tē) n., mar'gin·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: mar·gin·al
Pronunciation: 'märj-n&l, -&n-&l
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, orsituated at a margin or border
2 : located at the fringe of consciousness <marginal sensations>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

marginal mar·gin·al (mär'jə-nəl)
adj.

  1. Of, relating to, located at, or constituting a margin, a border, or an edge.

  2. Marginally within a lower standard or limit of quality.

  3. Relating to or located at the fringe of consciousness.

mar'gin·al'i·ty (-jə-nāl'ĭ-tē) n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Computing Dictionary

marginal jargon
1. Extremely small. "A marginal increase in core can decrease GC time drastically." In everyday terms, this means that it is a lot easier to clean off your desk if you have a spare place to put some of the junk while you sort through it.
2. Of extremely small merit. "This proposed new feature seems rather marginal to me."
3. Of extremely small probability of winning. "The power supply was rather marginal anyway; no wonder it fried."
[The Jargon File]
(1994-10-21)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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