Edge | Mean of edge in English Dictionary

/ˈɛʤ/

• Noun
• the line or part where an object or area begins or ends
1. They peered over the edge of the roof.
2. The fabric was frayed at the edge.
3. He made us all nervous by standing so close to the edge of the cliff.
4. We sat at the water's edge. [=where the water touched the land]
5. She sat on the edge of the counter, swinging her legs.
• the part of a blade that cuts
1. the edge of an ax
2. a razor's edge
• the sharpness of a blade
1. This knife has no edge. [=this knife is not sharp]

• a harsh or unkind quality
1. His voice/comments had a sarcastic/sardonic edge.
• force or effectiveness
1. Her writing seems to have lost its edge.
2. These amendments will blunt the edge of the legislation.
• an advantage over others
1. Our experience gave us an/the edge.
2. You need to get/gain an edge on your competition.
3. The company still has/holds an edge over its competitors.
4. a competitive edge
• feeling nervous
1. She was on edge [=edgy] before her exam. = Her nerves were on edge before her exam.
• very close to (something)
1. a species on the edge of extinction
2. The company was teetering on the edge of disaster/bankruptcy.
3. They were poised on the edge of success.
4. He was on the edge of saying something when the phone rang.
• into a mental or emotional state that makes someone completely lose control
1. His friends worried that the news might send/drive/push him over the edge.
• to make (something) weaker or less severe
1. a medication that takes the edge off the pain
2. A glass of milk will take the edge off your hunger/appetite. [=will make you feel less hungry]
• Verb
• to give an edge to (something)
1. Edge the sleeve with lace.
2. The sleeve was edged with/in lace. [=it had a lace edge]
• to be on the edge of (something)
1. Trees edge the lake.
2. The garden is edged [=fringed, bordered] with/in/by flowers.
• to move slowly or with small movements in a specified direction
1. She edged away from him.
2. Gasoline prices have been edging upward.
3. I edged my chair closer to the table.
• to defeat (someone) by a small amount
1. (chiefly US) He was edged in the semifinals by the defending champion.
2. He was edged out in the semifinals.
3. She barely/narrowly edged out her opponent.
• to slowly become more successful, popular, etc., than (someone or something)
1. The company is gradually edging out the competition.
2. Efficiency has edged out price as the top reason people give for buying the car.