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fringe Definition

fringe (frinj)

noun

  1. a border or trimming of cords or threads, hanging loose or tied in bunches
    1. anything like this a fringe of hair
    2. an outer edge; border; margin at the fringes of the slums
  3. a part considered to be peripheral, extreme, or minor in relation to the main part the lunatic fringe of a political party
  4. ☆ fringe benefit
  5. Optics any of the light or dark bands resulting from the interference or diffraction of light

Etymology: ME frenge < OFr frenge, fringe < VL *frimbia, metathesis of LL fimbria, a fringe, border < L fimbriae, shreds, fibers

transitive verb fringed, fring′·ing

  1. to decorate with or as with fringe
  2. to be a fringe for; line trees fringed the lawn

adjective

  1. at the outer edge or border a fringe area of television reception
  2. ☆ additional fringe costs
  3. ☆ less important; minor fringe industries

fringe Synonyms

fringe

n.

  1. The extreme edge

    border, borderline, margin, periphery; see edge 1.

  2. A raveled or decorative edge

    flounce, hem, trimming, rickrack, edging, frill, ruffle, lace, knitting, tatting, crochet, needlepoint, border, binding, tape, bias, pinking.

fringe Usage Examples

Object

  • reef: There are over 100 dive sites around the island and the fringing reef provides fantastic snorkeling.
  • beach: White sand beaches fringed with palms house 14 spacious beach bungalows.

Adjective modifier

  • lunatic: Lunatic fringe - ' Oh I am sorry, what did he suffer from?
  • isoclinic: Two different types of fringes can be observed in photoelasticity: isochromatic and isoclinic fringes.
  • sublittoral: Bleached populations occurred predominantly at the sublittoral fringe, pale plants further up the shore occurred quite frequently in the normal course of events.
  • Celtic: Labor were kept in by the Celtic fringe; they are no longer a legitimate English government.
  • eastern: What better place than the great muddy eastern fringes of Milton's island?
  • littoral: Lower littoral fringe The Pelvetia ( in shelter ) or Porphyra ( exposed ) belt.

Modifies a noun

  • meeting: I had got into the fringe meeting without being searched or even having to show proof of identity.
  • theater: Or is there good fringe theater going on in your area?
  • festival: The fringe festival kicks off afterward, just outside the castle.

Noun used with modifier

  • moorland: Scenery is vast and varies from coastal cliffs to moorland fringes.
  • interference: The mystery is to explain how the photons ' co-operate ' to form the interference fringes.
  • rug: In extreme cases, a non-toxic bleaching agent can be employed to restore the whiteness of rug fringes.
  • herb: The associated habitat is mainly 6430 Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels.
  • lunchtime: Not any more was the view expressed at a Tuesday lunchtime fringe meeting chaired by Jane Carolan.
  • reed: Tall reeds fringe open water where frogs and toads spawn in the spring.

Preposition: of

moor: Landscape Key Characteristics Scenic narrow mountain valley, with steep marginal farmland on the fringes of upland moors.

Preposition: with

  • palm: White sand beaches fringed with palms house 14 spacious beach bungalows.
  • reed: The network of dikes are mostly fringed with reed.