# margin

Pronunciation: say "MAR-jin" US /ˈmɑːɹd͡ʒ(ə)n/, UK /ˈmɑːd͡ʒɪn/

## Noun

1. The blank space along the edge of a printed page, usually left empty but sometimes used for notes.
   - Simple: The blank space along the edge of a page, where you can write notes.
   - _The editor's corrections filled the margin beside each paragraph._
   - _Printers set generous margins to keep text from running off the page._
2. An allowable amount of difference that leaves room to move or adjust within set limits.
   - Simple: An extra amount of space, time, or money that gives you room to stay safe.
   - _The schedule had little margin for delay, so any holdup pushed everything back._
   - _Engineers add a margin to every load limit to keep the structure safe._
3. The profit left when the cost of producing something is subtracted from its selling price.
   - Simple: The money a business keeps after taking away what it cost to make something.
   - _Supermarkets often survive on a thin margin per item, relying on huge sales volume._
   - _Rising material costs squeezed the company's margin last quarter._
4. The amount by which one result, score, or characteristic differs from another, given as a difference or a ratio.
   - Simple: The amount by which one score or result is bigger than another.
   - _The bill passed by a narrow margin of just five votes._
   - _He beat the previous record by a wide margin._
5. The outer edge of any flat surface, or the border that runs along it.
   - Simple: The edge or border around a flat surface.
   - _A line of reeds marked the margin of the lake._
   - _The trail follows the eastern margin of the forest._
6. The boundary that determines whether someone or something belongs to a group or is excluded from it.
   - Simple: The line between belonging to a group and being left out of it.
   - _Reformers worked to bring people from the margin of society into full membership._
   - _Their beliefs placed them at the margin of the mainstream church._
7. The peripheral or secondary part of something, away from its main focus.
   - Simple: The outer, less important part of something, away from the center.
   - _These concerns remained at the margin of the debate, never central to it._
   - _The discovery moved from the margin of science to its very core._
8. Collateral deposited with a broker to cover potential losses from speculative trading in stocks, commodities, or similar.
   - Simple: Money or assets you leave with a broker to cover possible losses when trading.
   - _She bought the shares on margin, borrowing against the collateral in her account._
   - _When prices fell, the firm demanded additional margin to secure the position._
9. The shape or form of the outer edge of a leaf.
   - Simple: The shape of the outer edge of a leaf.
   - _Botanists noted the finely toothed margin along each leaflet._
   - _The plant's leaves have a wavy margin, unlike its smooth-edged relative._

## Verb

10. To trade securities or commodities using collateral deposited with a broker.
   - Simple: To buy or sell stocks using money borrowed against a deposit.
   - _Traders often margin volatile commodities to amplify potential gains._
   - _She chose to margin her holdings, borrowing against them to expand her portfolio._
11. To enter notes or comments into the blank edge of a page.
   - Simple: To write notes into the blank edge of a page.
   - _Readers margin their reactions alongside the printed text._
   - _He margined several corrections before passing the draft back._
12. To add a margin or border to something.
   - Simple: To add a blank border or edge to something.
   - _Designers margin the layout to keep text away from the edges._
   - _She margined the sheets evenly on all four sides._

## Origin

From Middle English "margyn," from Latin "marginem" (possibly via Old French "margin"), the accusative of "margō" meaning "edge, brink, border, margin." It is a doublet of "marge" and "margo."

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