[ad_1] noun
- a decorative border of thread, cord, or the like, usually hanging loosely from a raveled edge or separate strip.
- anything resembling or suggesting this: a fringe of grass around a swimming pool.
- an outer edge; margin; periphery: on the fringe of the art world.
- something regarded as peripheral, marginal, secondary, or extreme in relation to something else: the lunatic fringe of a strong political party.
- Optics. one of the alternate light and dark bands produced by diffraction or interference.
- fringe benefit.
verb (used with object), fringed, fringĀ·ing.
- to furnish with or as if with a fringe.
- to serve as a fringe for, or to be arranged around or along so as to suggest a fringe: armed guards fringing the building.
noun
- an edging consisting of hanging threads, tassels, etc
-
- an outer edge; periphery
- (as modifier)fringe dwellers; a fringe area
- (modifier) unofficial; not conventional in formfringe theatre
- mainly British a section of the front hair cut short over the forehead
- an ornamental border or margin
- physics any of the light and dark or coloured bands produced by diffraction or interference of light
verb (tr)
- to adorn or fit with a fringe or fringes
- to be a fringe forfur fringes the satin
early 14c., from Old French frenge “thread, strand, fringe, hem” (early 14c.), from Vulgar Latin *frimbia, metathesis of Latin fimbriae (plural) “fibers, threads, fringe,” of uncertain origin. Figurative sense of “outer edge, margin,” is first recorded 1894. Related: Fringes. Fringe benefits is recorded from 1952.
late 15c., from fringe (n.). Related: Fringed; fringing.