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Entry 11 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Edge

/(ĕj)/ · IPA /ɛd͡ʒ/
01 n. The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument; as, the edge of an ax, knife, sword, or scythe.
  1. 1.
    The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument; as, the edge of an ax, knife, sword, or scythe.(figuratively)
    “He which hath the sharp sword with two edges.” — Rev. ii. 12.
    “Slander, Whose edge is sharper than the sword.” — Shak.
  2. 2.
    Any sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; extreme verge; as, the edge of a table, a precipice.
    “Upon the edge of yonder coppice.” — Shak.
    “In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Of battle.” — Milton.
    “Pursue even to the very edge of destruction.” — Sir W. Scott.
  3. 3.
    Sharpness; readiness or fitness to cut; keenness; intenseness of desire.
    “The full edge of our indignation.” — Sir W. Scott.
    “Death and persecution lose all the ill that they can have, if we do not set an edge upon them by our fears and by our vices.” — Jer. Taylor.
  4. 4.
    The border or part adjacent to the line of division; the beginning or early part; as, in the edge of evening.
Phrases & compounds
Edge joint — a joint formed by two edges making a corner.
Edge mill — a crushing or grinding mill in which stones roll around on their edges, on a level circular bed; -- used for ore, and as an oil mill. Called also Chilian mill.
Edge molding — a molding whose section is made up of two curves meeting in an angle.
Edge plane — A plane for edging boards.
Edge play — a kind of swordplay in which backswords or cutlasses are used, and the edge, rather than the point, is employed.
Edge rail — A rail set on edge; -- applied to a rail of more depth than width.
Edge railway — a railway having the rails set on edge.
Edge stone — a curbstone.
Edge tool — Any tool or instrument having a sharp edge intended for cutting.
To be on edge — to be eager, impatient, or anxious.
on edge — See to be on edge.
To set the teeth on edge — to cause a disagreeable tingling sensation in the teeth, as by bringing acids into contact with them.
02 v. t. To furnish with an edge as a tool or weapon; to sharpen.
imp. & p. p. Edged; p. pr. & vb. n. Edging
  1. 1.
    To furnish with an edge as a tool or weapon; to sharpen.
    “To edge her champion's sword.” — Dryden.
  2. 2.
    To shape or dress the edge of, as with a tool.
  3. 3.
    To furnish with a fringe or border; as, to edge a dress; to edge a garden with box.
    “Hills whose tops were edged with groves.” — Pope.
  4. 4.
    To make sharp or keen, figuratively; to incite; to exasperate; to goad; to urge or egg on.[Obs.]
    “By such reasonings, the simple were blinded, and the malicious edged.” — Hayward.
  5. 5.
    To move by little and little or cautiously, as by pressing forward edgewise; as, edging their chairs forwards.
03 v. i. To move sideways; to move gradually; as, edge along this way.
  1. 1.
    To move sideways; to move gradually; as, edge along this way.
  2. 2.
    To sail close to the wind.
    “I must edge up on a point of wind.” — Dryden.
Phrases & compounds
To edge away [or] off — to increase the distance gradually from the shore, vessel, or other object.
To edge down — to approach by slow degrees, as when a sailing vessel approaches an object in an oblique direction from the windward.
To edge in — to get in edgewise; to get in by degrees.
To edge in with — to advance gradually, but not directly, toward it.