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   Fringe

   /frinj/

   

   noun

   • 1. the border or outer edges of an area or group: "the southern fringes of the city"
   • ▪ the unconventional, extreme, or marginal part of a group or sphere of activity: "the lunatic fringe of American political life"
   • 2. a decorative border of hanging threads left loose or formed into tassels or twists, used to edge clothing or material: "the beaded fringe of her dress" Similar edgingedgeborderhemtrimmingfrillflounceruffletasselsarchaic:purfle
   • 3. the front part of a person's hair cut so as to hang over the forehead; bangs: British "she smiled as she pushed her fringe back out of her eyes"
   • ▪ a natural border or edging of hair or fibers in an animal or plant: "a long fringe of hair on the tail"
   • 4. a band of contrasting brightness or darkness produced by diffraction or interference of light.
   • ▪ a strip of false color in an optical image.
   • 5. short for fringe benefit North American

   adjective

   • 1. not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme: "fringe theater"

   verb

   • 1. decorate (clothing or material) with a fringe: "a rich robe of gold, fringed with black velvet" Similar trimhemedgeborderrimbindbraidtasseldecorateadornornamentembellishfinisharchaic:purflerare:befringebefrill
   • ▪ form a border along or around (something): "the sea is fringed by palm trees" Similar borderedgeboundskirtlinehemflankvergesurroundencloseencirclecircleencompassringcircumscribeliterary:girdgirdleengirdrare:compassenviron
   • ▪ form a natural border or edging of hair or fibers on (part of an animal or plant): "each of the legs on its first six body segments were fringed with fine hairlike structures"

   Word Origin Middle English (in fringe (sense 2 of the noun)): from Old French frenge, based on late Latin fimbria, earlier a plural noun meaning ‘fibers, shreds’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. fringeless adjective
   • 2. fringy adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • F

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   • R

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   • I

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   • N

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   • G

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   • E

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