periphery

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: pe=riph=er=y

CIDE DICTIONARY

periphery, n. [L. peripheria, Gr. ; around + fe`rein to bear, carry: cf. F. périphérie.].

•  The outside or superficial portions of a body; the surface.  [1913 Webster]
•  The circumference of a circle, ellipse, or other figure.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

periphery, n. (pl. -ies)
1 the boundary of an area or surface.
2 an outer or surrounding region (built on the periphery of the old town).

Etymology

LL peripheria f. Gk periphereia circumference (as PERI-, phereia f. phero bear)

THESAURUS

periphery

alentours, ambience, ambit, border, borderlands, bound, boundaries, boundary, bounds, bourns, brim, circle, circuit, circumambiencies, circumference, circumjacencies, circumscription, circumstances, compass, confines, context, coordinates, cortex, covering, crust, edge, edges, entourage, envelope, environing circumstances, environment, environs, epidermis, exterior, external, facade, face, facet, fringe, fringes, front, gestalt, habitat, integument, limitations, limits, lineaments, marches, margin, metes, metes and bounds, milieu, neighborhood, outer face, outer layer, outer side, outer skin, outline, outlines, outposts, outside, outskirts, pale, parameters, perimeter, precincts, purlieus, rim, rind, shell, situation, skin, skirts, suburbs, superficies, superstratum, surface, surroundings, top, total environment, verge, verges, vicinage, vicinity

ROGET THESAURUS

periphery

Outline

N outline, circumference, perimeter, periphery, ambit, circuit, lines tournure, contour, profile, silhouette, bounds, coast line, zone, belt, girth, band, baldric, zodiac, girdle, tyre, cingle, clasp, girt, cordon, circlet.