Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - edge

~1 n 1 the part of an object that is furthest from its centre  (Just leave it on the edge of your plate. | Suli stood at the water's edge.) 2 the thin sharp part of a blade or tool that cuts  (Careful - that knife has a very sharp edge!) 3 have the edge on/over to be slightly better than someone or something, because you have an advantage that they do not have  (Marcia has the edge over the other students, having spent a year in England.) 4 be on edge to be nervous, especially because you are expecting something unpleasant to happen  (I've been on edge ever since I got her letter.) 5 be on the edge informal to be behaving in a way that makes it seem as if you are going crazy 6 take the edge off to make something less bad, good, strong etc  (Try this. It should take the edge off the pain.)  (- see also the cutting edge of cutting2 (3)) ~2 v 1 I always + adv/prep, T always + adv/prep to move gradually with several small movements, or to make something do this  (The car edged forwards at walking pace. | edge sth in/across/towards etc)  (Hetty edged her chair closer to mine. | edge your way in/through/towards etc (=move somewhere carefully with small movements))  (Slowly, we edge our way towards the front of the crowd.) 2 to put something on the edge or border of something  (edge sth with)  (The sleeves were edged with lace.) 3 I always + adv/prep, T always + adv/prep to develop gradually, or to make something do this  (edge (sth) in/up/towards)  (Prices have been static for months, but are now beginning to edge up.) 4 to cut the edges of an area of grass so that they are tidy and straight