margin — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The edge of the paper, typically left blank when printing but sometimes used for annotations etc.

2. The edge or border of any flat surface.

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   Nothing could be more business-like than the construction of the stout dams, and nothing more gently rural than the limpid lakes, with the grand old forest trees marshalled round their margins like a veteran army that had marched down to drink, only to be stricken motionless at the water’s edge.

   The lobule margins, furthermore, are arched away from the lobe, with the consequence that (when fully inflated) the abaxial leaf surface forms the interior lining of the lobule.

3. The edge defining inclusion in or exclusion from a set or group.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Examples

   As far as space is concerned, Mary Lamb finds herself at the farthest margin of society - among tramps - when the novel begins.

4. A difference or ratio between results, characteristics, scores.

   Examples

   margin of victory

   More examples (1)

   Chelsea will point to that victory margin as confirmation of their superiority - but Spurs will complain their hopes of turning the game around were damaged fatally by Atkinson's decision.

   in Kentucky, for example, Trump beat Hillary Clinton by a nearly two-to-one margin

5. A permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits.

   Examples

   margin of error

6. The yield or profit; the selling price minus the cost of production.

7. Collateral security deposited with a broker, to compensate the broker in the event of loss in the speculative buying and selling of stocks, commodities, etc.

   Examples

   The purchaser then hands over this margin to the person with whom he hypothecates the Stock.

   If you borrow from your broker via trading on margin, you need to add monthly margin interest charges to your trading costs as well.

8. That which is ancillary; periphery.

   Examples

   This model merely nips at the margins.

9. The shape of the edge of a leaf.

   Examples

   Red Whortleberry leaves have a crenate margin.

Verb

1. To add a margin to; to furnish with a margin.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The scale-like feathers of the breast are margined with rich metallic blue-green, which colour entirely covers the throat and sides of the neck, as well as the long pointed plumes which spring from the sides of the breast, and extend nearly as far as the end of the wings.

2. To enter (notes etc.) into the margin.

   Usage

   • Transitive

3. To trade (securities etc.) on margin (collateral).

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   This sounds easy, but bear in mind that margined portfolios decline faster than cash portfolios in a bear market.

Noun

1. the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary

   Synonyms

   borderperimeter

   Broader terms

   boundaryedgebound

2. an amount beyond the minimum necessary

   Broader terms

   amount

   Examples

   the margin of victory

3. the amount of collateral a customer deposits with a broker when borrowing from the broker to buy securities

   Synonyms

   security deposit

   Broader terms

   down paymentdeposit

4. (finance) the net sales minus the cost of goods and services sold

   Synonyms

   gross profitgross profit margin

   Broader terms

   net incomenetnet profitlucreprofitprofitsearnings

5. the blank space that surrounds the text on a page

   Broader terms

   spaceblank spaceplace

   Examples

   he jotted a note in the margin

6. a permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits

   Synonyms

   allowanceleewaytolerance

   Broader terms

   discrepancydisagreementdivergencevariance