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verge

noun
\ ˈvərj How to pronounce verge (audio) \

Definition of verge

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1a : brink, threshold a country on the verge of destruction— Archibald MacLeish
b : something that borders, limits, or bounds: such as
(1) : an outer margin of an object or structural part
(2) : the edge of roof covering (such as tiling) projecting over the gable of a roof
(3) British : a paved or planted strip of land at the edge of a road : shoulder
2a(1) : a rod or staff carried as an emblem of authority or symbol of office
(2) obsolete : a stick or wand held by a person being admitted to tenancy while he swears fealty
b : the spindle of a watch balance especially : a spindle with pallets in an old vertical escapement
c : the male copulatory organ of any of various invertebrates

verge

verb (1)
verged; verging

Definition of verge (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

1 : to be contiguous
2 : to be on the verge or border the line where sentiment verges on mawkishness— Thomas Hardy

verge

verb (2)
verged; verging

Definition of verge (Entry 3 of 3)

intransitive verb

1a of the sun : to move or tend toward the horizon : sink
b : to move or extend in some direction or toward some condition verging to a hasty decline— Edward Gibbon
2 : to be in transition or change
Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about verge

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Synonyms for verge

Synonyms: Noun

brink, cusp, edge, point, threshold

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Examples of verge in a Sentence

Noun

 the suspect was on the verge of confessing when the officers realized that he hadn't been read his rights the southern verge of the national park

First Known Use of verge

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a(1)

Verb (1)

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for verge

Noun

Middle English, "rod, measuring rod, margin," borrowed from Anglo-French, "rod, area of jurisdiction," going back to Latin virga "shoot, twig, rod, line,"; perhaps, if going back to *wiz-g-, akin to Old Norse visk "wisp" — more at whisk entry 1

Verb (1)

verbal derivative of verge entry 1

Verb (2)

borrowed from Latin vergere "to move downward, slope down, sink" — more at wrench entry 1

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More Definitions for verge

verge

noun
How to pronounce verge (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of verge

British : an area along the edge of a road, path, etc.

See the full definition for verge in the English Language Learners Dictionary

verge

noun
\ ˈvərj How to pronounce verge (audio) \

Kids Definition of verge

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : threshold sense 2, brink Even when he wasn't smiling, he appeared to be on the verge of doing so …— Kevin Henkes, Olive's Ocean
2 : something that borders, limits, or bounds : edge the verge of a road

verge

verb
verged; verging

Kids Definition of verge (Entry 2 of 2)

: to come near to being This verges on madness.

verge

Medical Definition of verge

— see anal verge

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More from Merriam-Webster on verge

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with verge

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for verge

Spanish Central: Translation of verge

Nglish: Translation of verge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of verge for Arabic Speakers

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