margin
UK /ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪn/ · US /ˈmɑɹ.d͡ʒɪn/ noun, verb
Forms margins margining margined
- noun (typography) The edge of the paper, typically left blank when printing but sometimes used for annotations etc.
- noun The edge or border of any flat surface.
- noun (figuratively) The edge defining inclusion in or exclusion from a set or group.
- noun A difference or ratio between results, characteristics, scores. “margin of victory”
- noun A permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits. “margin of error”
- noun (finance) The yield or profit; the selling price minus the cost of production.
- noun (finance) Collateral security deposited with a broker, to compensate the broker in the event of loss in the speculative buying and selling of stocks, commodities, etc.
- noun That which is ancillary; periphery. “This model merely nips at the margins.”
- verb (transitive) To add a margin to; to furnish with a margin.
- verb (transitive) To enter (notes etc.) into the margin.
- verb (transitive, finance) To trade (securities etc.) on margin (collateral).
Synonyms
border perimeter security deposit gross profit gross profit margin allowance leeway tolerance
Etymology
From Middle English margyn, from Latin marginem (possibly via Old French margin), accusative of margō (“edge, brink, border, margin”). Doublet of marge and margo.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A border; edge; brink; verge; as, the margin of a river or lake.
- noun Specifically: The part of a page at the edge left uncovered in writing or printing.
- verb To furnish with a margin.
- verb To enter in the margin of a page.
Etymology [OE. margine, margent, L. margo, ginis. Cf. March a border, Marge.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “margin”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details