edge

edge¹ W2S2 [edʒ] n

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1¦(outside part)¦

2¦(blade)¦

3¦(advantage)¦

4 on edge

5¦(voice)¦

6¦(slope)¦

7 on the edge of something

8¦(quality)¦

9 take the edge off something

10 on the edge of your seat

11 be on the edge

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[: Old English; Origin: ecg]

1.) ¦(OUTSIDE PART)¦

the part of an object that is furthest from its centre

▪ Put the lamb in the centre of the dish, with the vegetables and herbs around the edge.

the edge of sth

▪ the right hand edge of the page

▪ Jennifer walked to the edge of the wood.

▪ Billy sat on the edge of the bed.

▪ He stood at the water's edge staring across the lake.

▪ A leaf was on the ground, curling up at the edges.

2.) ¦(BLADE)¦

the thin sharp part of a blade or tool that cuts

▪ a knife with a sharp edge

3.) ¦(ADVANTAGE)¦ [singular, U]

something that gives you an advantage over others

▪ Companies are employing more research teams to get an edge.

▪ The next version of the software will have the edge over its competitors.

4.) on edge

nervous, especially because you are expecting something unpleasant to happen

▪ Paul felt on edge about meeting Lisa.

5.) ¦(VOICE)¦ [singular]

a quality in someone's voice that makes it sound slightly angry or impatient

▪ There was an edge of hostility in Jack's voice.

▪ Desperation lent an edge to her voice.

6.) ¦(SLOPE)¦

an area beside a very steep slope

▪ She walked almost to the edge of the cliff.

7.) on the edge of sth

close to the point at which something different, especially something bad, will happen

▪ Their economy is on the edge of collapse.

▪ She is on the edge of despair.

8.) ¦(QUALITY)¦ [singular]

a special quality of excitement or danger

▪ The school's campaign has been given an extra edge by being filmed for television.

9.) take the edge off sth

to make something less bad, good, strong etc

▪ Pascoe was drinking whisky to take the edge off the pain.

10.) on the edge of your seat

giving all your attention to something exciting

▪ The film's ending had me on the edge of my seat.

11.) be on the edge informal

to be behaving in a way that makes it seem as if you are going crazy

→↑cutting edge

→↑knife-edge

edge ²

edge² v

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1¦(move)¦

2¦(put at edge)¦

3¦(change)¦

4¦(grass)¦

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1.) ¦(MOVE)¦ [I,T always + adverb/preposition]

to move gradually with several small movements, or to make something do this

▪ Tim was edging away from the crowd.

▪ She edged closer to get a better look.

▪ He edged her towards the door.

edge your way into/round/through etc sth

▪ Christine edged her way round the back of the house.

2.) ¦(PUT AT EDGE)¦ [T usually passive]

to put something on the edge or border of something

▪ The city square was edged by trees.

be edged with sth

▪ The tablecloth is edged with lace.

3.) ¦(CHANGE)¦ [I,T always + adverb/preposition]

to change gradually, especially so as to get better or worse

edge up/down

▪ Profits have edged up.

▪ The paper has edged ahead of (=been more successful than) its rivals.

4.) ¦(GRASS)¦ [T]

to cut the edges of an area of grass so that they are tidy and straight