margin

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
margin/ˈmɑːʤɪn/

▶noun

• 1 an edge or border.

  ■ the blank border on each side of the print on a page.

• 2 the furthest reach or limit: the margins of acceptability.

• 3 an amount by which something is won: a convincing 17-point margin.

  ■ an amount included or allowed for so as to be sure of success or safety: there was no margin for error.

  ■ Finance a sum deposited with a broker to cover the risk of loss on a transaction on account.

  ■ Austral./NZ an increment to a basic wage.

▶verb (margins, margining, margined)

• 1 provide with a margin: its leaves are margined with yellow.

• 2 deposit a margin on (an account or transaction).

– derivatives
margined adjective.

– origin ME: from L. margo, margin- ‘edge’.