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View synonyms for fringe

fringe

[ frinj ]

noun

  1. a decorative border of thread, cord, or the like, usually hanging loosely from a raveled edge or separate strip.
  2. anything resembling or suggesting this:

    a fringe of grass around a swimming pool.

    Synonyms: rim, skirt, border, edge

  3. an outer edge; margin; periphery:

    on the fringe of the art world.

  4. something regarded as peripheral, marginal, secondary, or extreme in relation to something else:

    the lunatic fringe of a strong political party.

  5. Optics. one of the alternate light and dark bands produced by diffraction or interference.


verb (used with object)

, fringed, fring·ing.
  1. to furnish with or as if with a fringe.
  2. to serve as a fringe for, or to be arranged around or along so as to suggest a fringe:

    armed guards fringing the building.

fringe

/ frɪndʒ /

noun

  1. an edging consisting of hanging threads, tassels, etc
    1. an outer edge; periphery
    2. ( as modifier )

      a fringe area

      fringe dwellers

  2. modifier unofficial; not conventional in form

    fringe theatre

  3. a section of the front hair cut short over the forehead
  4. an ornamental border or margin
  5. physics any of the light and dark or coloured bands produced by diffraction or interference of light


verb

  1. to adorn or fit with a fringe or fringes
  2. to be a fringe for

    fur fringes the satin

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Derived Forms

  • ˈfringeless, adjective

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Other Words From

  • fringeless adjective
  • fringelike adjective
  • fringy adjective
  • under·fringe noun
  • un·fringe verb (used with object) unfringed unfringing

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Word History and Origins

Origin of fringe1

1325–75; Middle English frenge < Old French ( French frange ) < Vulgar Latin *frimbia, metathetic variant of Late Latin fimbria, Latin fimbriae fringe

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Word History and Origins

Origin of fringe1

C14: from Old French frenge , ultimately from Latin fimbria fringe, border; see fimbria

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Example Sentences

In the outer fringes of the solar system, objects were so cold and slow-moving, apparently, that they could simply touch and stick together.

Before the pandemic, Frailey knew a little bit about QAnon, but he hadn’t given such an easily debunked fringe theory much of his time.

If successful, they might not be on the fringes of American politics for much longer.

From Ozy

Altogether, I’ve spent the fringes of three winters there — in 1991, 1995 to 1996, and 2007 to 2008.

Most of the deaths have occurred near the village of Seronga on the northern fringes of the Okavango Delta, a vast swampy inland region that hosts huge wildlife populations.

From Quartz

The Five Percent Nation of Islam was there as well as fringe Stalinist groups.

GALLERY: 'JUSTICE FOR ALL' MARCH IN WASHINGTON DC There were plenty of representatives of the fringe too.

Indeed, the chatter for the past year on the anti-gay fringe has been of resistance.

Indeed, Wolf's journey to the crackpot fringe was completed a long time ago.

Unlike Cosby, who had only a fringe of gray hair left, he still sported a silver mane.

These form one of the many island groups that hang like a fringe or festoon on the skirt of the continent of Asia.

The crowd disposed itself on the fringe of the sward, and the duellists went forward, and set about the preparations.

The walls were covered with silk and velvet hangings, ornamented with gold fringe, while rich carpets were spread underfoot.

The late Caleb Whitefoord, seeing a lady knotting fringe for a petticoat, asked her, what she was doing?

He was not a man to dodge trouble that might bring profit dangling to the fringe of her skirt.

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gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

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Frimlfringe area