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verge on

 - 4 dictionary results

verge

1[vurj] ,noun, verb, verged, verg⋅ing.
–noun
1. the edge, rim, or margin of something: the verge of a desert; to operate on the verge of fraud.
2. the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs; brink: on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
3. a limiting belt, strip, or border of something.
4. British. a narrow strip of turf bordering on a pathway, sidewalk, roadway, etc.
5. a decorative border, as on or around an object, structural part, etc.
6. limited room or scope for something: an action within the verge of one's abilities.
7. an area or district subject to a particular jurisdiction.
8. History/Historical. an area or district in England embracing the royal palace, being the jurisdiction of the Marshalsea Court.
9. the part of a sloping roof that projects beyond the gable wall.
10. Architecture. the shaft of a column or colonette.
11. a rod, wand, or staff, esp. one carried as an emblem of authority or of the office of a bishop, dean, or the like.
12. Horology. a palletlike lever formerly used in inexpensive pendulum clocks.
13. Obsolete. a stick or wand held in the hand of a person swearing fealty to a feudal lord on being admitted as a tenant.
–verb (used without object)
14. to be on the edge or margin; border: Our property verges on theirs.
15. to come close to or be in transition to some state, quality, etc. (usually fol. by on): a statesman who verged on greatness; a situation that verged on disaster.
–verb (used with object)
16. to serve as the verge or boundary of: a high hedge verging the yard.

Origin:
1350–1400; late ME: shaft, column, rod (hence boundary or jurisdiction symbolized by a steward's rod), ME: penis < MF: rod < L virga


1. brim, lip, brink.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: verge
—see ANAL VERGE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

verge (vûrj)
n.
The extreme edge or margin; a border.

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

verge on

  1. Approach, come close to, as in Her ability verges on genius. [Early 1800s]

  2. Be on the edge or border of, as in Our property verges on conservation land. [Late 1700s]

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