# rim

/ˈɹɪm/ (US) · /ɹˈɪm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rim
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. outer edge

noun · CEFR B2

the outer edge of a round object, like a cup, bowl, or plate.

For teachers: the outer edge or border of an object, typically one that is circular or curved.

- She wiped a small smudge of lipstick off the rim of her coffee cup.
- The archaeologist carefully brushed the dirt away from the rim of the ancient clay vessel, revealing a delicate pattern of etched lines.

### 2. wheel part

noun · CEFR B2

the outer metal circle of a wheel that the tire is attached to.

For teachers: the outer circular metal part of a wheel on which the tyre is mounted.

- He spent the whole afternoon cleaning the chrome rims of his new car.
- The impact with the deep pothole was severe enough to dent the alloy rim, causing the tyre to lose pressure immediately.

Usage: Often used in the plural when referring to decorative car wheels.

### 3. to border

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to form an edge or border around something.

For teachers: to serve as a rim or border for something; to surround the edge of an object.

- Dark clouds rimmed with gold appeared on the horizon as the sun set.
- The valley was rimmed by jagged limestone peaks that remained snow-capped even during the height of the summer months.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice or as a participial adjective.

### 5. sexual act

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

to perform a specific sexual act involving the mouth and the partner's bottom.

For teachers: to perform anilingus on a partner.

- He asked his partner if they were comfortable with rimming during sex.
- The adult film industry often uses explicit terminology like rimming to describe specific scenes in their marketing materials.

Usage: Transitive verb.

Teaching tip: This is a highly explicit term; learners should be aware of its vulgarity and avoid it in all but the most intimate or informal contexts.

## Examples

- The rim of the coffee cup is chipped.
- The basketball bounced off the rim twice before finally falling through the net.
- The mechanic inspected the steel rim of the tire for any signs of corrosion that might compromise the seal.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.