margin

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: mar=gin

CIDE DICTIONARY

margin, n. [OE. margine, margent, L. margo, ginis. Cf. March a border, Marge.].

•  A border; edge; brink; verge; as, the margin of a river or lake.  [1913 Webster]
•  Specifically: The part of a page at the edge left uncovered in writing or printing.  [1913 Webster]
•  The difference between the cost and the selling price of an article.  [1913 Webster]
•  Something allowed, or reserved, for that which can not be foreseen or known with certainty.  [1913 Webster]
•  Collateral security deposited with a broker to secure him from loss on contracts entered into by him on behalf of his principial, as in the speculative buying and selling of stocks, wheat, etc. It is usually less than the full value of the security purchased, in which case it may be qualified by the portion of the full value required to be deposited; as, to buy stocks on 50% margin.  N. Biddle.  [1913 Webster]

Margin draft (Masonry), a smooth cut margin on the face of hammer-dressed ashlar, adjacent to the joints. -- Margin of a course (Arch.), that part of a course, as of slates or shingles, which is not covered by the course immediately above it. See 2d Gauge.

Syn. -- Border; brink; verge; brim; rim.

margin, v. t. 

•  To furnish with a margin.  [1913 Webster]
•  To enter in the margin of a page.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

margin, n. & v.
--n.
1 the edge or border of a surface.
2 a the blank border on each side of the print on a page etc. b a line ruled esp. on exercise paper, marking off a margin.
3 an amount (of time, money, etc.) by which a thing exceeds, falls short, etc. (won by a narrow margin; a margin of profit).
4 the lower limit of possibility, success, etc. (his effort fell below the margin).
5 Austral. an increment to a basic wage, paid for skill.
6 a sum deposited with a stockbroker to cover the risk of loss on a transaction on account.
--v.tr. (margined, margining) provide with a margin or marginal notes.

Idiom

margin of error a usu. small difference allowed for miscalculation, change of circumstances, etc. margin release a device on a typewriter allowing a word to be typed beyond the margin normally set.

Etymology

ME f. L margo -ginis

THESAURUS

margin

abut, adjoin, aesthetic distance, air space, allowance, ample scope, balance, bank, befringe, bind, blank check, board, bonus, border, bordure, bound, boundary line, bounds, brim, brink, brow, caesura, carte blanche, caution, caution money, clearance, coast, collateral, collateral security, compass, connect, deep space, delicacy, delicate distinction, deposit, depths of space, differentia, differential, discontinuity, distance, distance between, distinction, divergence, dividend, double space, edge, elbowroom, em space, en space, enframe, exhaust price, extent, extra, farness, featheredge, field, fine point, flange, forfeit, frame, free course, free hand, free play, free scope, freeboard, freedom, fringe, frontier, full scope, full swing, gratuity, hair space, hairline, half space, headroom, hem, hiatus, infinity, interim, intermediate space, interruption, interspace, interstice, interval, join, jump, labellum, labium, labrum, lacuna, lagniappe, lap, latitude, leap, ledge, leeway, leftover, length, light-years, limb, limbus, limits, line, lip, list, long rope, maneuvering space, march, marge, marginate, mileage, minimum, narrow margin, neighbor, nice distinction, nicety, no holds barred, nuance, open space, outline, overage, overmeasure, overplus, overrun, overset, overstock, oversupply, parsecs, particle of difference, perimeter, periphery, perspective, piece, play, plus, point of difference, pourboire, purfle, purl, ragged edge, range, reach, refinement, remainder, remoteness, rim, room, room to spare, rope, scope, sea room, selvage, separation, set off, shade of difference, shoestring margin, shore, side, sideline, single space, skirt, something extra, space, space between, span, spare, spare room, stake, stretch, stride, subtle distinction, subtlety, surplus, surplusage, surround, swing, thin margin, time interval, tip, tolerance, touch, trim, trimming, verge, way, ways, wide berth, wide margin

ROGET THESAURUS

margin

Redundancy

N redundancy, redundance, too much, too many, superabundance, superfluity, superfluence, saturation, nimiety, transcendency, exuberance, profuseness, profusion, repletion, enough in all conscience, satis superque, lion's share, more than enough, plethora, engorgement, congestion, load, surfeit, sickener, turgescence, overdose, overmeasure, oversupply, overflow, inundation, avalanche, accumulation, heap, drug, drug in the market, glut, crowd, burden, excess, surplus, overplus, epact, margin, remainder, duplicate, surplusage, expletive, work of supererogation, bonus, bonanza, luxury, intemperance, extravagance, exorbitance, lavishment, pleonasm, too many irons in the fire, embarras de richesses, redundant, too much, too many, exuberant, inordinate, superabundant, excessive, overmuch, replete, profuse, lavish, prodigal, exorbitant, overweening, extravagant, overcharged, supersaturated, drenched, overflowing, running over, running to waste, running down, crammed to overflowing, filled to overflowing, gorged, ready to burst, dropsical, turgid, plethoric, obese, superfluous, unnecessary, needless, supervacaneous, uncalled for, to spare, in excess, over and above, de trop, adscititious, supernumerary, on one's hands, spare, duplicate, supererogatory, expletive, un peu fort, over, too, over and above, overmuch, too much, too far, without measure, beyond measure, out of measure, with a to spare, over head and ears, up to one's eyes, up to one's ears, extra, beyond the mark, acervatim, it never rains but it pours, fortuna multis dat nimium nulli satis, Degree of Subservience.

Freedom

N freedom, liberty, independence, license, facility, scope, range, latitude, play, free play, full play, free scope, full scope, free stage and no favor, swing, full swing, elbowroom, margin, rope, wide berth, Liberty Hall, franchise, denization, free man, freed man, livery man, denizen, autonomy, self-government, liberalism, free trade, noninterference, Monroe Doctrine, immunity, exemption, emancipation, enfranchisement, affranchisement, free land, freehold, allodium, frankalmoigne, mortmain, bushwhacker, freelance, free thinker, free trader, independent, free, free as air, out of harness, independent, at large, loose, scot-free, left alone, left to oneself, in full swing, uncaught, unconstrained, unbuttoned, unconfined, unrestrained, unchecked, unprevented, unhindered, unobstructed, unbound, uncontrolled, untrammeled, unsubject, ungoverned, unenslaved, unenthralled, unchained, unshackled, unfettered, unreined, unbridled, uncurbed, unmuzzled, unrestricted, unlimited, unmitigated, unconditional, absolute, discretionary, unassailed, unforced, uncompelled, unbiassed, spontaneous, free and easy, at ease, at one's ease, degage, quite at home, wanton, rampant, irrepressible, unvanquished, exempt, freed, freeborn, autonomous, freehold, allodial, gratis, eleutherian, unclaimed, going a begging, freely, ad libitum, ubi libertas ibi patria, free white and twenty-one.

Space

N space, extension, extent, superficial extent, expanse, stretch, hyperspace, room, scope, range, field, way, expansion, compass, sweep, swing, spread, dimension, length, distance, size, volume, hypervolume, latitude, play, leeway, purchase, tolerance, room for maneuver, spare room, elbow room, house room, stowage, roomage, margin, opening, sphere, arena, open space, free space, void, waste, wildness, wilderness, moor, moorland, campagna, abyss, unlimited space, infinity, world, ubiquity, length and breadth of the land, proportions, acreage, acres, acres and perches, roods and perches, hectares, square miles, square inches, square yards, square centimeters, square meters, yards (clothing), ares, arpents, spacious, roomy, extensive, expansive, capacious, ample, widespread, vast, world-wide, uncircumscribed, boundless, shoreless, trackless, pathless, extended, extensively, wherever, everywhere, far and near, far and wide, right and left, all over, all the world over, throughout the world, throughout the length and breadth of the land, under the sun, in every quarter, in all quarters, in all lands, here there and everywhere, from pole to pole, from China to Peru, from Indus to the pole, from Dan to Beersheba, from end to end, on the face of the earth, in the wide world, from all points of the compass, to the four winds, to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Edge

N edge, verge, brink, brow, brim, margin, border, confine, skirt, rim, flange, side, mouth, jaws, chops, chaps, fauces, lip, muzzle, threshold, door, porch, portal, coast, shore, frame, fringe, flounce, frill, list, trimming, edging, skirting, hem, selvedge, welt, furbelow, valance, gimp, border, marginal, skirting, labial, labiated, marginated.