border

1 of 2

noun

bor·​der ˈbȯr-dər 

1

: an outer part or edge

at the borders of the forest

2

textiles : an ornamental design at the edge of a fabric or rug

3

: a narrow bed of planted ground along the edge of a lawn or walkway

a border of tulips

4

: boundary

on the border between New York and Canada

crossed the border into Italy

5

: a plain or decorative margin around printed matter

wedding invitations with a delicate gold leaf border

bordered

ˈbȯr-dərd 

adjective

border

2 of 2

verb

bordered; bordering ˈbȯr-d(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to put a border on

a rug bordered with a pattern of leaves

bordered the garden with pansies

2

: to touch at the edge or boundary : bound

borders the city on the south

Slovakia borders Poland.

intransitive verb

1

: to lie on the border

the U.S. borders on Canada

2

: to approach the nature of a specified thing : verge

borders on the ridiculous

borderer

ˈbȯr-dər-ər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• borderline
• bound
• boundary
• brim
• circumference
• compass
• confines
• edge
• edging
• end
• frame
• fringe
• hem
• margin
• perimeter
• periphery
• rim
• skirt
• skirting
• verge

Verb

• bound
• edge
• frame
• fringe
• margin
• rim
• skirt

Examples of border in a Sentence

Noun

He grew up in Malaysia, near the Indonesian border.

They live just beyond the western border of the park.

the border of the Sahara

The quilt is quite plain except for its colorful border.

a broad red border on each plate

He planted pansies in the border.

Verb

Their property borders the park.

Tall trees border the avenue.

Two rivers border the city.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Nordic country that joined the alliance in 2023 has already accused Moscow of stoking a migrant crisis at its border. —Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024

In today’s interconnected world, borders blur while regulations multiply. —Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.d., Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024

Verb

Roughly halfway between Hawai’i and American Samoa, Palmyra Atoll forms a circular chain of about 26 small islets surrounded by multiple lagoons and bordered by 15,000 acres of shallow and deeper reefs. —Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

The front of the coin features Brutus’ profile bordered by a laurel wreath. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bordure, from Anglo-French, from border to border, from Old French bort border, of Germanic origin; probably akin to Old English bord board

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing border

• border collie
• border on
• border terrier
• brush border
• herbaceous border
• the border

Kids Definition

border

1 of 2 noun

bor·​der ˈbȯrd-ər 

1

: an outer part or edge

2

: a boundary especially of a country or state

3

: a narrow bed of plants along the edge of a garden or walk

4

: an ornamental design at the edge of a fabric or rug

bordered

-ərd 

adjective

border

2 of 2 verb

bordered; bordering ˈbȯrd-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to put a border on

border the garden with flowers

2

: to be located close or next to

the U.S. borders on Canada

3

: to come very close to being : verge

that remark borders on the ridiculous

borderer

-ər-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

border

noun

bor·​der ˈbȯrd-ər 

: an outer part or edge see brush border