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verge

 - 7 dictionary results

verge

1  [vurj] ,noun, verb, verged, verg⋅ing.
Use verge in a Sentence
–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

Synonyms:
1. brim, lip, brink.

verge

2  [vurj] ,
–verb (used without object), verged, verg⋅ing.
1. to incline; tend (usually fol. by to or toward): The economy verges toward inflation.
2. to slope or sink.
Origin:
1600–10; < L vergere to turn, bend, be inclined
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To verge
verge 1   (vûrj)   
n.  

  1. The extreme edge or margin; a border. See Synonyms at border.

    1. An enclosing boundary.

    2. The space enclosed by such a boundary.

  3. The point beyond which an action, state, or condition is likely to begin or occur; the brink: on the verge of tears; a nation on the verge of economic prosperity.

  4. Architecture The edge of the tiling that projects over a roof gable.

  5. Chiefly British The shoulder of a road.

  6. A rod, wand, or staff carried as an emblem of authority or office.

  7. Obsolete The rod held by a feudal tenant while swearing fealty to a lord.

  8. The spindle of a balance wheel in a clock or watch, especially such a spindle in a clock with vertical escapement.

  9. The male organ of copulation in certain invertebrates.

intr.v.   verged, verg·ing, verg·es

  1. To approach the nature or condition of something specified; come close. Used with on: a brilliance verging on genius.

  2. To be on the edge or border: Her land verges on the neighboring township.


[Middle English, from Old French, rod, ring, from Latin virga, rod, strip.]
verge 2   (vûrj)   
intr.v.   verged, verg·ing, verg·es

  1. To slope or incline.

  2. To tend to move in a particular direction: "the Neoclassicism ... away from which they subsequently verged" (Hugh Honour).

  3. To pass or merge gradually: dusk verging into night.


[Latin vergere; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.]
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: 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

In addition to the idiom beginning with verge, also see on the verge of.

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