1a. A thin, sharpened side, as of the blade of a cutting instrument. b. The degree of sharpness of a cutting blade. c. A penetrating, incisive quality: “His simplicity sets off the satire, and gives it a finer edge” (William Hazlitt). d. A slight but noticeable sharpness or harshness: His voice had an edge to it.2. Keenness, as of desire or enjoyment; zest: The brisk walk gave an edge to my appetite.3a. The line of intersection of two surfaces: the edge of a brick; the table's rounded edges.b. A rim or brink: the edge of a cliff.c. The point at which something is likely to begin: on the edge of war.4a. The area or part away from the middle; an extremity: lifted the carpet's edge.b. A dividing line; a border: a house on the edge of town. See synonyms at border. 5. A margin of superiority; an advantage: a slight edge over the opposition.6. A provocative or discomforting quality, as from audacity or innovativeness: “Over all, the show will have a grittier edge” (Constance C.R. White, New York Times January 2, 1996).
VERB:
Inflected forms: edged, edg·ing, edg·es
TRANSITIVE VERB:
1a. To give an edge to (a blade); sharpen. b. To tilt (a ski or both skis) in such a way that an edge or both edges bite into the snow. 2a. To put a border or edge on: edged the quilt with embroidery.b. To act as or be an edge of: bushes that edged the garden path.3. To advance or push slightly or gradually: The dog edged the ball with its nose.4. To trim or shape the edge of: edge a lawn.
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
To move gradually or hesitantly: The child edged toward the door.
PHRASAL VERB:
edge out To surpass or beat by a small margin: The runner edged her opponent out at the last moment.
IDIOMS:
on edge Highly tense or nervous; irritable. on the edge1. In a precarious position. 2. In a state of keen excitement, as from danger or risk: “the excitement of combat, of living on the edge” (Nelson DeMille).
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English egge, from Old English ecg. See ak- in Appendix I.
j
less —ADJECTIVE
