fringe
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a decorative border of hanging threads on clothing or curtains.
n.an ornamental border consisting of short lengths of hanging thread, cord, or tassels.
Simple“The velvet curtains were finished with a gold fringe along the bottom.”
In context“The designer added a delicate silk fringe to the hem of the shawl, giving the garment a sense of movement when the model walked.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.hair that is cut to hang down over your forehead.
n.a hairstyle where the front part of the hair is cut straight across the forehead.
Simple“She decided to cut a fringe to change her look for the summer.”
In context“The stylist suggested a blunt fringe to frame her face, though she warned it would require frequent trimming to maintain its shape.”
Teacher's tipIn American English, this is almost always called 'bangs'.
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the outer edge or border of an area or a group.
n.the peripheral or marginal part of an area, activity, or social group.
Simple“They live on the northern fringe of the city, where the countryside begins.”
In context“The research focused on communities living on the urban fringe, where access to public services is often limited compared to the city center.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describing something that is not part of the main or most popular group.
adj.pertaining to or being part of a marginal or extreme group or activity.
Simple“He was often criticized for his fringe scientific theories.”
In context“The candidate struggled to gain traction because his platform was built on fringe issues that did not resonate with the average voter.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to form a border around something.
v.to serve as a border or edge for something; to decorate with a fringe.
Simple“Tall pine trees fringe the edge of the lake.”
In context“A line of ancient oaks fringed the meadow, casting long, jagged shadows across the grass as the sun began to set.”
UsageOften used in the passive voice or as a participial adjective (e.g., 'fringed with').
Usage fringe candidates
“Farage and Binface both topped a long list of joke candidates, independents and members of fringe political parties.”
“If this year’s offering, The Part of You That’s Always Screaming, were delivered by any other comic, I’d be hailing it as one of the twistiest and deepest-thinking hours on the fringe.”
From Middle English frenge, from Old French frenge, from Vulgar Latin *frimbia, a metathesis of Latin fimbriae (“fibers, threads, fringe”, plural), of uncertain origin. Compare German Franse and Danish frynse. Displaced native Middle English fnæd (“fringe”), Middle English byrd (“fringe”), Middle English fasel (“fringe”) from Old English fæs (“fringe”), and Old English fnæs (“fringe”). Doublet of fimbria.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.