frɪndʒ n. & v. --n. 1 a an
ornamental bordering of threads left
loose or formed
into tassels or twists. b
such a bordering
made separately. c
any border or
edging. 2 a a
portion of
the front hair hanging over the
forehead. b a
natural border of hair etc. in an
animal or
plant. 3 an
outer edge or
margin; the outer
limit of an
area,
population, etc. (often attrib. : fringe theatre). 4 a
thing,
part, or area of
secondary or
minor importance. 5 a a
band of contrasting brightness or darkness produced by diffraction or
interference of
light. b a strip of
false colour in an
optical image. 6 US a fringe
benefit. --v.tr. 1
adorn or
encircle with a fringe. 2
serve as a fringe
to. øfringe benefit an employee's benefit supplementing a
money wage or
salary. fringe
medicine systems of
treatment of
disease etc.
not regarded as
orthodox by the
medical profession.
fringing reef a
coral reef
that fringes the shore. øøfringeless adj. fringy adj. [ME & OF frenge ult. f. LL fimbria (earlier
only in pl.) fibres, fringe]
