border
BAW-duh
Border (noun) means the line separating two countries, states, or regions. Example: “Lorry drivers queued for hours at the border while officials checked their papers.”
noun
1
The line separating two countries, states, or regions.
"Lorry drivers queued for hours at the border while officials checked their papers."
"They crossed the border into Canada just before sunset."
"Tensions have flared along the border for years."
2
The outer edge of something, or a decorative strip around that edge.
"She planted flowers along the border of the lawn."
"The page has a blue border around the edge of the photograph."
"The tablecloth had a lace border sewn around the edges."
verb
1
To share a boundary with, or lie right next to.
"The forest borders our village on the northern side."
"France borders Spain to the south."
"His behavior was bordering on rude."
How to use border
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe dividing line between two places, the edge of something, or (as a verb) to be right next to or almost like something.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
cross the border
border on
a flower border
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Word forms
- Plural
- borders
- Third person singular
- borders
- Past tense
- bordered
Fill the gap
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Lorry drivers queued for hours at the _____ while officials checked their papers.
Etymology
From Old French "bordeure," of Germanic origin, related to the word "board" in the sense of an edge or rim.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for border
See all rhymes for border →Frequently asked questions
What does “border” mean?
The word “border” means the line separating two countries, states, or regions. In plain terms, the dividing line between two places, the edge of something, or (as a verb) to be right next to or almost like something.
How do you pronounce “border”?
“Border” is pronounced BAW-duh (/ˈbɔɹ.dɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “border” in a sentence?
Here is “border” used in a sentence: “They crossed the border into Canada just before sunset.”
What part of speech is “border”?
Depending on how it is used, “border” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “border” come from?
The word “border” comes from Old French. From Old French "bordeure," of Germanic origin, related to the word "board" in the sense of an edge or rim.
Is “border” a common word?
“Border” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “border” have?
“Border” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the line separating two countries, states, or regions.
What is the difference between a border and a boundary?
A boundary is any line that marks where one area ends and another begins, from a garden fence to a property line. A border is a specific kind of boundary, usually the political line between countries, states, or regions, often marked and controlled. Every border is a boundary, but not every boundary is a border.
What is the difference between a border and a frontier?
A border is the precise line dividing two territories. A frontier is the wider region along that line, or historically the edge of settled land beyond which lies unexplored or unclaimed territory. So you cross a border at a single point, but a frontier is a broader zone rather than a fixed line.
What is an example of a border?
The line between the United States and Mexico is a border, as is the one dividing France and Spain. Borders can follow natural features like rivers and mountains or be drawn as straight surveyed lines. Many are marked by checkpoints where travel and trade between the two sides are controlled.
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