border Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a line that indicates a boundary
    delimitation; borderline; boundary line; mete.
  2. noun the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
    perimeter; margin.
  3. noun the boundary of a surface
    edge.
  4. noun a decorative recessed or relieved surface on an edge
    moulding; molding.
  5. noun a strip forming the outer edge of something
    • the rug had a wide blue border
  6. verb extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle
    skirt; ring; environ; surround.
    • The forest surrounds my property
  7. verb form the boundary of; be contiguous to
    bound.
  8. verb enclose in or as if in a frame
    frame; frame in.
    • frame a picture
  9. verb provide with a border or edge
    edge.
    • edge the tablecloth with embroidery
  10. verb lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
    march; abut; edge; adjoin; butt; butt against; butt on.
    • Canada adjoins the U.S.
    • England marches with Scotland

WordNet

Bor"der noun
Etymology
OE. bordure, F. bordure, fr. border to border, fr. bord a border; of German origin; cf. MHG. borte border, trimming, G. borte trimming, ribbon; akin to E. board in sense 8. See Board, n., and cf. Bordure.
Definitions
  1. The outer part or edge of anything, as of a garment, a garden, etc.; margin; verge; brink.
    Upon the borders of these solitudes. Bentham.
    In the borders of death. Barrow.
  2. A boundary; a frontier of a state or of the settled part of a country; a frontier district.
  3. A strip or stripe arranged along or near the edge of something, as an ornament or finish.
  4. A narrow flower bed. Syn. -- Edge; verge; brink; margin; brim; rim; boundary; confine.
Bor"der intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Bordered present participle & verbal noun Bordering
Definitions
  1. To touch at the edge or boundary; to be contiguous or adjacent; -- with on or upon as, Connecticut borders on Massachusetts.
  2. To approach; to come near to; to verge.
    Wit which borders upon profaneness deserves to be branded as folly. Abp. Tillotson.
Bor"der transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To make a border for; to furnish with a border, as for ornament; as, to border a garment or a garden.
  2. To be, or to have, contiguous to; to touch, or be touched, as by a border; to be, or to have, near the limits or boundary; as, the region borders a forest, or is bordered on the north by a forest.
    The country is bordered by a broad tract called the "hot region." Prescott.
    Shebah and Raamah . . . border the sea called the Persian gulf. Sir W. Raleigh.
  3. To confine within bounds; to limit. Obs.
    That nature, which contemns its origin, Can not be bordered certain in itself. Shak.

Webster 1913