border

[ bawr-der ]

noun

1. the part or edge of a surface or area that forms its outer boundary.

   Synonyms: verge, periphery, rim

2. the line, limit, or delimiting geographic feature that separates one country, state, province, etc., from another: The largest lake within the borders of Canada is Great Bear Lake.

   You cannot cross the border without a visa.

   The largest lake within the borders of Canada is Great Bear Lake.

3. the district or region that lies along the boundary line of another.
4. the frontier of civilization.
5. the border,
   1. the border between the United States and Mexico, especially along the Rio Grande.
   2. (in the British Isles) the region along the boundary between England and Scotland.
6. brink; verge.
7. an ornamental strip or design around the edge of a printed page, a drawing, etc.
8. an ornamental design or piece of ornamental trimming around the edge of a fabric, rug, garment, article of furniture, etc.
9. Horticulture.
   1. a long, narrow bed planted with flowers, shrubs, or trees.
   2. a strip of ground in which plants are grown, enclosing an area in a garden or running along the edge of a walk or driveway.
   3. the plants growing in such a strip:

      a border of tulips along the path.

10. Theater.
    1. a narrow curtain or strip of painted canvas hung above the stage, masking the flies and lighting units, and forming the top of the stage set.
    2. border light.

verb (used with object)

1. to make a border around; adorn with a border.
2. to form a border or boundary to.
3. to lie on the border of; adjoin.

verb (used without object)

1. to form or constitute a border; be next to:

   California borders on the Pacific Ocean.

2. to approach closely in character; verge:

   The situation borders on tragedy.

border

¹

/ ˈbɔːdə /

noun

1. a band or margin around or along the edge of something
2. the dividing line or frontier between political or geographic regions
3. 1. a region straddling such a boundary
   2. ( as modifier )

      border country

4. 1. a design or ornamental strip around the edge or rim of something, such as a printed page or dinner plate
   2. ( as modifier )

      a border illustration

5. a long narrow strip of ground planted with flowers, shrubs, trees, etc, that skirts a path or wall or surrounds a lawn or other area

   a herbaceous border

verb

1. tr to decorate or provide with a border
2. whenintr, foll by on or upon
   1. to be adjacent (to); lie along the boundary (of)

      his land borders on mine

   2. to be nearly the same (as); verge (on)

      his stupidity borders on madness

Border

²

/ ˈbɔːdə /

noun

1. often plural the area straddling the border between England and Scotland
2. the area straddling the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
3. the region in S South Africa around East London

Border

³

/ ˈbɔːdə /

noun

1. BorderAllan (Robert)1955MAustralianSPORT AND GAMES: cricketer Allan ( Robert ). born 1955, Australian cricketer; played in 156 test matches (1978–1994), 93 as captain; first Australian batsman to score 10,000 test runs

Other Words From

• bor·dered adjective
• bor·der·less adjective
• trans·bor·der adjective
• un·bor·dered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of border¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English bordure, from Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to bord(er) “to border” (derivative of bord “ship's side, edge,” from Germanic; board ) + -ure noun suffix; -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of border¹

C14: from Old French bordure , from border to border, from bort side of a ship, of Germanic origin; see board

Synonym Study

See edge. See boundary.

Example Sentences

After Congress declined to give him money for his border wall, then-President Trump simply took it from the military.

From New York Times

The accusation is focused around two telephone calls that Netanyahu received as the Hamas cross border raid was unfolding on 7 October 2023.

From BBC

After El Paso I began investigating how a border crisis, rising temperatures, disasters and the swirling political reactions to them were affecting the agendas and vigilante campaigns of the far right.

From Salon

Trump’s announcement of a newly created position, “border czar,” needs no framing.

From Los Angeles Times

And then there’s Tom Homan, whom Trump has named his “border czar.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abut
• adjoin
• encircle
• flank
• neighbor
• surround

More About Border

What does border mean?

A border is the outer edge of a surface or image that marks its boundary in reference to others, such as a border you draw around a picture.

A border is also a line that acts as a boundary between two or more geographic areas, whether it’s small areas, like between neighbors on the same street, or large areas, like between countries.

To border often means to create a border, as on a picture.

To border can also mean to form a border or to be next to one, as in Maine borders New Hampshire to the west and south and Canada to the north and east.

Example: The border around the image is quite interesting, but I don’t think it fits the piece.

Where does border come from?

The first records of the term border come from the mid-1300s. It ultimately comes from the Old French bord.

Borders are used in a variety of places to create boundaries or separations. Garden borders are narrow strips of land with flowers, shrubs, and other plants in them. In a theater, a border is a narrow curtain or strip of painted canvas that runs along the top of the stage. In the United States, someone refers to “the border,” they likely mean the border between the US and Mexico.

Too, if you’re close to winning a game, someone might say you are bordering on winning, figuratively standing on a line between winning and losing.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to border?

• bordered (adjective)
• borderless (adjective)
• transborder (adjective)
• unbordered (adjective)

What are some synonyms for border?

• boundary
• edge
• flank
• line
• abut

What are some words that share a root or word element with border? 

• borderer
• borderland
• borderline

What are some words that often get used in discussing border?

• art
• country
• cross
• frame
• painting

What are some words border may be commonly confused with?

• boarder

How is border used in real life?

Border more commonly used to refer to both ornamental boundaries, such as on paper, and land boundaries, particularly those that are argued about.

Light rail is such an effortless commute that it now feels like Downtown and Columbia City border each other.

— Alex Steffen (@AlexSteffen) August 22, 2009

My location switches constantly. That’s what I get for living on a city border.

— Christine Romero-Chan 📱🗝🏰 (@christyxcore) July 23, 2012

Very lucky to live in a country as beautiful, diverse, tolerant & welcoming as Canada. Ocean-to-ocean, border-to-border, ain't none better.

— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) July 1, 2013

 

Try using border!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for border?

A. boundary
B. center
C. edge
D. line