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on edge

 - 5 dictionary results
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edge

  [ej] noun, verb, edged, edg⋅ing.
Use on edge in a Sentence
–noun
1. a line or border at which a surface terminates: Grass grew along the edges of the road. The paper had deckle edges.
2. a brink or verge: the edge of a cliff; the edge of disaster.
3. any of the narrow surfaces of a thin, flat object: a book with gilt edges.
4. a line at which two surfaces of a solid object meet: an edge of a box.
5. the thin, sharp side of the blade of a cutting instrument or weapon.
6. the sharpness proper to a blade: The knife has lost its edge.
7. 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.
8. British Dialect. a hill or cliff.
9. an improved position; advantage: He gained the edge on his opponent.
10. Cards.
a. advantage, esp. the advantage gained by being the age or eldest hand.
b. eldest hand.
11. Ice Skating. 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.
12. Skiing. one of the two edges on the bottom of a ski that is angled into a slope when making a turn.
–verb (used with object)
13. to put an edge on; sharpen.
14. to provide with an edge or border: to edge a terrace with shrubbery; to edge a skirt with lace.
15. to make or force (one's way) gradually by moving sideways.
16. Metalworking.
a. to turn (a piece to be rolled) onto its edge.
b. to roll (a piece set on edge).
c. to give (a piece) a desired width by passing between vertical rolls.
d. to rough (a piece being forged) so that the bulk is properly distributed for final forging.
–verb (used without object)
17. to move sideways: to edge through a crowd.
18. to advance gradually or cautiously: a car edging up to a curb.
—Verb phrases
19. edge in, 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?
20. edge out, to defeat (rivals or opponents) by a small margin: The home team edged out the visitors in an exciting finish.
—Idioms
21. have an edge on, Informal. to be mildly intoxicated with alcoholic liquor: He had a pleasant edge on from the sherry.
22. on edge,
a. (of a person or a person's nerves) acutely sensitive; nervous; tense.
b. impatient; eager: The contestants were on edge to learn the results.
23. set one's teeth on edge. tooth (def. 21).
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME egge, OE ecg; c. G Ecke corner; akin to L aciēs, Gk akís point

Related forms:
edgeless, adjective

Synonyms:
1. rim, lip. Edge, border, margin refer to a boundary. An edge is the boundary line of a surface or plane: the edge of a table. Border is the boundary of a surface or the strip adjacent to it, inside or out: a border of lace. Margin is a limited strip, generally unoccupied, at the extremity of an area: the margin of a page.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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edge   (ěj)   
n.  

    1. A thin, sharpened side, as of the blade of a cutting instrument.

    2. The degree of sharpness of a cutting blade.

    3. A penetrating, incisive quality: "His simplicity sets off the satire, and gives it a finer edge" (William Hazlitt).

    4. A slight but noticeable sharpness or harshness: His voice had an edge to it.

    5. The line of intersection of two surfaces: the edge of a brick; the table's rounded edges.

    6. A rim or brink: the edge of a cliff.

    7. The point at which something is likely to begin: on the edge of war.

    8. The area or part away from the middle; an extremity: lifted the carpet's edge.

    9. A dividing line; a border: a house on the edge of town. See Synonyms at border.

  2. Keenness, as of desire or enjoyment; zest: The brisk walk gave an edge to my appetite.

    1. The line of intersection of two surfaces: the edge of a brick; the table's rounded edges.

    2. A rim or brink: the edge of a cliff.

    3. The point at which something is likely to begin: on the edge of war.

    4. The area or part away from the middle; an extremity: lifted the carpet's edge.

    5. A dividing line; a border: a house on the edge of town. See Synonyms at border.

    1. The area or part away from the middle; an extremity: lifted the carpet's edge.

    2. A dividing line; a border: a house on the edge of town. See Synonyms at border.

  5. A margin of superiority; an advantage: a slight edge over the opposition.

  6. A provocative or discomforting quality, as from audacity or innovativeness: "Over all, the show will have a grittier edge" (Constance C.R. White).

v.   edged, edg·ing, edg·es

v.   tr.

    1. To give an edge to (a blade); sharpen.

    2. To tilt (a ski or both skis) in such a way that an edge or both edges bite into the snow.

    3. To put a border or edge on: edged the quilt with embroidery.

    4. To act as or be an edge of: bushes that edged the garden path.

    1. To put a border or edge on: edged the quilt with embroidery.

    2. To act as or be an edge of: bushes that edged the garden path.

  3. To advance or push slightly or gradually: The dog edged the ball with its nose.

  4. To trim or shape the edge of: edge a lawn.

  5. To surpass or beat by a small margin. Often used with out: The runner edged her opponent out at the last moment.

v.   intr.
To move gradually or hesitantly: The child edged toward the door.

[Middle English egge, from Old English ecg; see ak- in Indo-European roots.]
edge'less adj.
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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Slang Dictionary
edge

  1. n.
    drunkenness; the early stage of intoxication from alcohol or drugs. (See also have an edge on.) : She was beginning to show a little edge, but she obviously still could drive.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

edge 
O.E. ecg "corner, edge," also "sword," from P.Gmc. *agjo (cf. O.N. egg, see egg (v.); Ger. Eck "corner"), from PIE base *ak- "sharp, pointed" (cf. L. acies, Gk. akis "point;" see acrid). Spelling development of O.E. -cg to M.E. -gg to Mod.E. -dge represents a widespread shift in pronunciation. Verb meaning "to move edgeways (with the edge toward the spectator), advance slowly" is first recorded 1624, originally nautical. The verb meaning "urge on, incite" (16c.) is usually a mistake for egg (v.). Edge-ways "turned on edge" is from 1566. Edgy "tense and irritable" is attested from 1837. To get the edge on (someone) is U.S. colloquial, first recorded 1911. Edge city is from Joel Garreau's 1992 book of that name. Razor's edge as a perilous narrow path translates Gk. epi xyrou akmes. "As if it were possible for any of us to slide in a word edgewise" [Miss Mitford, 1824].
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

on edge

Tense, nervous, irritable, as in We were all on edge as we waited for the surgeon's report. This expression transfers the edge of a cutting instrument to one's feelings. [Late 1800s] Also see on the edge; set one's teeth on edge.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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