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margin

margin

33 3.6
Area along the edge of something like a field or page
  • noun
  • /ˈmɑrdʒɪn/
translation icon : margen
  • A narrow walkway led him around the pond margin and deeper into the chamber.
  • outer margin
  • eastern margin
  • southern margin

You'd think that, but we actually reran our benches on every board and these margins between them, while narrow, were surprisingly consistent.

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Examples

  • Now, Pennsylvania law requires A recount when the margin is half a percentage point or less.

  • Background details remain mere ornaments pushed to the margins of the composition.

    Academic text (2011)
  • And another note in the margin: "You want to take it with me?"

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Along the western margin of the midland plain of England rise the mountains of Wales.

    Academic text (1999)
  • In fact, Lawson and his father stood calmly on the pool's margin watching the alligator emerge.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Morocco is situated astride the Sahara Desert, on the southern margins of midlatitude storm systems.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The terrain on Ovda's northern margins is very steep, just like the terrain surrounding Lakshmi Planum.

    Academic text (1991)
  • I sat very still, Susan's handwriting in the margins of the blocky book wavering in my teary gaze.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • There was a clear margin between the two competing teams in the final score.

  • Please make sure to leave a margin on the side of the paper for notes.

Synonyms

side
vsmargin
1.0

A flat edge or surface of a shape like a square

is the area just inside that outer surface, not the surface
border
vsmargin
1.0

A line that separates two countries or regions

is the area immediately inside the marking line, not the line itself
edge
vsmargin
1.0

Outer part of an object that forms a border, often sharp

is the area just inside that sharp outer line rather than the line itself
perimeter
vsmargin
271 4.1

The outer edge of a shape or area and the total length of that edge

is the area immediately inside that outer limit rather than the limit or length
boundary
vsmargin
232 3.1

A line or fence that marks the edge of an area and separates it from another

is the area immediately inside that separating line, not the line
bound
vsmargin
132 5.8

A line or limit that shows the edge of an area

is the area immediately inside that marking rather than the marking itself
periphery
vsmargin
27 6.5

The outer edge of an area, group, or idea

is the area just inside that surrounding outer area, not the outermost part
bounds
vsmargin
2 3.2

A limit that shows how far something reaches

is the area just inside those limits rather than the limits themselves
boundary line
vsmargin
2 3.1

A line that shows the edge between two areas

is the area directly inside that defining line rather than the line
demarcation line
vsmargin
2 5.5

A line or border that shows where one area ends and another begins

is the area directly inside that setting line rather than the line marking it
outer boundary
vsmargin
4.6

The far edge of an area or thing that shows its limits

is the area immediately inside that outermost limit rather than the limit itself

Compounds

profit margin
  • Specialized
42 3.6

Difference between the cost to make or buy something and its selling price shown as a percent

margin of error
  • Specialized
27 4.2

An amount that shows how much a number or result may be wrong

Space that allows small mistakes without big problems

7 2.7

A big difference between two amounts or scores

gross margin
  • Specialized
6 4.9

Part of sales left after paying the cost to make the goods, shown as a percent

A very small difference between two amounts or scores

margin call
  • Specialized
4 8.2

A demand from a broker for more money or stocks to bring an investment account to the required level

margin of safety
  • Specialized
1 4.5

An extra amount beyond the minimum to keep something safe

An extra amount people keep to allow for errors and prevent harm

margin account
  • Specialized
1 7.2

An account at a broker that lets you borrow money to buy stocks using those stocks as security

margin of profit
  • Specialized
1 3.9

The percent of sales that remains as money after paying costs

gross profit margin
  • Specialized
1 4.1

The amount of money a company keeps from sales after paying for goods, shown as a percent of sales

7.4

The extra money an insurance company keeps to show it can pay claims and debts

How Wide

margin
33 3.6
margin
39 2.9

Surface Forms

margin singular
margins plural

Etymology

Margin comes from the old root marg- meaning 'edge' or 'border', like the edge of a field or the line around a court. So margin can mean the area at or just inside a boundary.