boundary

noun

BOWN-duh-ree/ˈbaʊndəɹi/UKBOWN-dree/ˈbaʊndɹi/

6 meanings of boundary

1
nouncountable
A line that separates one area from another.
Like a line drawn on the ground to show where one place ends and the next begins.
A low wall marks the boundary between our yard and theirs.
The river forms the boundary between the two states.
Similarborder, line, frontier, limit, borderline
Note
2
nounfigurativelycountableplural
A limit you set on what others can say or do to you.
Like an invisible line that tells people how close they can get.
She set a clear boundary by saying she wouldn't answer work calls at night.
Good friends respect each other's boundaries.
Similarlimit, line, bound
Note
3
nouncountable
The line that marks the outer edge of a sports field.
Like the edge of a playground that shows where the game area stops.
The fielder stopped the ball just before it reached the boundary.
Players are not allowed to step over the boundary during play.
Similarrope, edge
Note
4
nouncountable
In cricket, a hit that sends the ball to the edge of the field, scoring four or six runs.
Like scoring extra points by hitting the ball all the way to the edge of the field.
He hit a boundary to reach his fifty.
The crowd cheered every time she scored a boundary.
Note
5
nouncountable
In math, all the places at the very edge of a shape or group, between its inside and its outside.
The boundary of a circle is the curve that goes around it.
Every point on the boundary touches both the inside and the outside.
Similarfrontier
Note
6
nounPhilippinescountable
In the Philippines, the set fee a bus or jeepney driver pays the vehicle's owner, keeping the leftover fares as pay.
Like renting a taxi for the day and keeping any money you earn above the rent.
The driver worked extra hours to cover his boundary for the day.
After paying the boundary, he took home whatever fares were left.
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from the word "bound" plus the ending "-ary".