fringe

Hair cut to hang over the forehead.

• Her fringe covers her eyebrows.
• I had my fringe trimmed yesterday.
• Would a short fringe suit me?

Similar words: bangs

Common phrases: long fringe, cut a fringe, straight fringe

The outer edge of a town, city, or other area.

• They live on the fringe of town.
• New shops opened along the city fringe.
• We found deer on the fringes of the forest.

How to use it: on the fringe of a place (They built a house on the fringe of the village.)

Similar words: outskirts, edge, periphery

Opposites: center

Common phrases: urban fringe, city fringe, fringe of town

A row of hanging threads along the edge of cloth or another object.

• The scarf has a long fringe.
• She added a gold fringe to the curtain.
• The fringes on both rugs were badly worn.

How to use it: fringe on something (The fringe on the shawl is handmade.)

Similar words: tassels

Common phrases: silk fringe, gold fringe, fringe on something

The outer or less important part of something.

• He remained on the fringe of the debate.
• These ideas belong to the fringe of popular culture.
• She gradually moved from the fringe to the center of the movement.

How to use it: on the fringe of something (Her research lies on the fringe of established science.)

Similar words: edge, margin, periphery

Opposites: center

Common phrases: fringe of something, on the fringe, outer fringe

Members of a group whose ideas differ greatly from those of most members.

• The party has a small radical fringe.
• Its extreme fringe rejected the new leader.
• A vocal fringe within the movement demanded immediate change.

How to use it: the fringe of a group (The radical fringe of the party opposed the deal.)

Opposites: mainstream

Common phrases: radical fringe, extreme fringe, party fringe

A bright or dark band made when light waves meet or bend around an edge.

• A bright fringe appeared on the screen.
• The experiment produced several dark fringes.
• Changing the wavelength changed the distance between the fringes.

Common phrases: interference fringe, diffraction fringe, bright fringe

Having ideas or activities that most people do not accept or support.

• They joined a fringe political group.
• This fringe theory has little scientific support.
• Several fringe parties competed in the election.

Similar words: marginal, unconventional

Opposites: mainstream

Common phrases: fringe group, fringe party, fringe theory

To form a line along the edge of something.

• Tall trees fringe the lake.
• Palms fringed the quiet beach.
• White flowers fringe the narrow path through the garden.

Similar words: border, line, edge

Common phrases: fringe the shore, fringe a lake, fringe the coast