Dictionary
verge
Pronunciation: (vûrj), [key]
—n., v., verged, verg•ing.
—
n.
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. Brit.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. Hist.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. Archit.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. Horol.a palletlike lever formerly used in inexpensive pendulum clocks.
13. Obs.a stick or wand held in the hand of a person swearing fealty to a feudal lord on being admitted as a tenant.
—
v.i.
1. to be on the edge or margin; border:
Our property verges on theirs.
2. 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.
—
v.t.
to serve as the verge or boundary of:
a high hedge verging the yard. verge
Pronunciation: (vûrj), [key]—
v.i., verged, verg•ing.
1. to incline; tend (usually fol. by
to or
toward):
The economy verges toward inflation.
2. to slope or sink.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
