# border

Pronunciation: US say "BOR-dur" /ˈbɔɹ.dɚ/; say "BAW-duh" UK /ˈbɔː.də/, AUS /ˈbɔə.də/

## Noun

1. The line or frontier zone that separates one political or geographical region from another.
   - Simple: The line that separates two countries or areas.
   - _Tensions rose along the border as both nations reinforced their troops._
   - _The river forms a natural border between the two states._
3. The outermost edge or boundary line of an object or area.
   - Simple: The outer edge or side of something.
   - _Trees grew thickly along the border of the property._
   - _He traced the border of the map with his finger._
4. A decorative strip or band running around the edge of something.
   - Simple: A strip of decoration that goes around the edge of something.
   - _The wallpaper featured an elegant gold border near the ceiling._
   - _A hand-painted border framed each page of the old manuscript._
7. A strip of ground, usually along the edge of a lawn or path, where ornamental plants are grown.
   - Simple: A long, narrow piece of ground where flowers and plants are grown.
   - _The herbaceous border bloomed all through June._
   - _Gardeners weeded the border before the flower show._

## Verb

2. To lie next to another country or area and share a boundary with it (also used with on, upon, or with).
   - Simple: To be next to another country or area, with a shared border between them.
   - _Spain borders Portugal to the west._
   - _The small farms that border the wildlife refuge often lose part of their crops to hungry geese._
5. To approach or come close to a state or quality, used with on or upon.
   - Simple: To come very close to a state or quality without quite reaching it.
   - _Such remarks border on insolence._
   - _Her excitement bordered on hysteria as the results were read._
6. To form an edge or boundary along or around something, sometimes enclosing it.
   - Simple: To form the edge of something, running along it or all the way around it.
   - _Ancient walls border the old city._
   - _Poplar trees bordered the long driveway up to the house._
8. To add a decorative edge or strip to something.
   - Simple: To add a strip of decoration around the edge of something.
   - _The seamstress bordered the gown with delicate lace._
   - _Artisans border the finest plates with hand-painted patterns._

## Other meanings

- (noun) A substring that occurs both as a prefix and as a suffix of a given string.
- (noun) A vigorous style of English folk dance originating in the counties along the Welsh border, traditionally performed with disguised faces and tattered jackets.

## Origin

This word came through Middle English "bordure" from Old French "bordeure", formed from the verb "border" ("to border") with "-ure"; it is of Germanic origin, ultimately from Frankish "*bord" (compare modern French "bord", "a border"). It is related to Middle High German "borte" and German "Borte" ("ribbon, trimming"), and is a doublet of "bordure", further cognate with English "board".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/border (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).