Border

UK: 'border': English: /ˈbɔːdə/, Scottish: /ˈbɔː^rdə^r/; 'Border': /ˈbɔːdə/

US: /ˈbɔrdɚ/

US: (bôr′dər)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Border / ˈbɔːdə/ noun the Border ⇒

1. (often plural) the area straddling the border between England and Scotland
2. the area straddling the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
3. the region in S South Africa around East London

Border / ˈbɔːdə/ noun

1. Allan (Robert). born 1955, Australian cricketer; played in 156 test matches (1978–1994), 93 as captain; first Australian batsman to score 10,000 test runs

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

bor•der /ˈbɔrdɚ/   n. 

[countable]
1. the part or edge of a surface that forms its outer boundary:
   a book with a red cover and a black border; a border of flowers across their front lawn.
2. the line that separates one country, province, etc., from another:
   The border between the two countries cuts across this mountain range.
3. the land that lies along the boundary line:
   The pilots were able to flee across the border into Switzerland.

v. 

4. to form a border along:
   [~ + object] Tall trees bordered the road.
5. to lie on the border (of);
   share a border (with): [~ + object]
   Sweden borders Norway and Finland.
   [~ + on + object]
   Sweden borders on Norway and Finland.
6. border on, [~ + on + object] to approach (something) closely in character;
   be almost the same as:
   This ridiculous situation borders on comedy.

Synonyms

See boundary.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

bor•der  (bôr′dər), n. 

1. the part or edge of a surface or area that forms its outer boundary.
2. the line that separates one country, state, province, etc., from another;
   frontier line:
   You cannot cross the border without a visa.
3. the district or region that lies along the boundary line of another.
4. the frontier of civilization.
5. the border:
   • the border between the U.S. and Mexico, esp. along the Rio Grande.
   • (in the British Isles) the region along the boundary between England and Scotland.
6. brink;
   verge.
7. an ornamental strip or design around the edge of a printed page, a drawing, etc.
8. Clothing an ornamental design or piece of ornamental trimming around the edge of a fabric, rug, garment, article of furniture, etc.
9. [Hort.]
   • Botany a long, narrow bed planted with flowers, shrubs, or trees.
   • Botany a strip of ground in which plants are grown, enclosing an area in a garden or running along the edge of a walk or driveway.
   • Botany the plants growing in such a strip:
     a border of tulips along the path.
10. Show Business [Theat.]
    • a narrow curtain or strip of painted canvas hung above the stage, masking the flies and lighting units, and forming the top of the stage set.
    • See border light. 

v.t. 

11. to make a border around;
    adorn with a border.
12. to form a border or boundary to.
13. to lie on the border of;
    adjoin.

v.i. 

14. to form or constitute a border;
    be next to:
    California borders on the Pacific Ocean.
15. to approach closely in character;
    verge:
    The situation borders on tragedy.

• Gmc; see board) + -ure -ure
• Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent. to bord(er) to border (derivative of bord ship's side, edge
• Middle English bordure 1325–75

bor′dered, adj. 
bor′der•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. rim, periphery, verge. See edge. 
• 2. See boundary. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

border / ˈbɔːdə/ noun

1. a band or margin around or along the edge of something
2. the dividing line or frontier between political or geographic regions
3. a region straddling such a boundary
4. a design or ornamental strip around the edge or rim of something, such as a printed page or dinner plate
5. a long narrow strip of ground planted with flowers, shrubs, trees, etc, that skirts a path or wall or surrounds a lawn or other area: a herbaceous border

verb

1. (transitive) to decorate or provide with a border
2. when intr, followed by on or upon: to be adjacent (to); lie along the boundary (of)
3. to be nearly the same (as); verge (on): his stupidity borders on madness

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French bordure, from border to border, from bort side of a ship, of Germanic origin; see board