Meaning of the word border

Each language assigns exact or similar definitions to several words. It is up to the speaker to convey a specific message. This message will be loaded with intentions and different degrees of complexity, depending on the person’s skills. This person evaluates in his mind all the options available for a word, and his criteria is the one that chooses the one he considers most appropriate. In today’s article, we will study the words «border» and «boundary» and the connection between them.

Many authors use the word «border» to refer to the formal line of political division between territories or countries. «Boundary» indicates a difference between cultures or social groups, which does not always have a visible division. People use these words as synonyms because both express division.

Learning new concepts facilitates access to further terms, confidence to use new words, and increases our communication skills. All this incorporation of new words will lead us on a progressive path to language proficiency. This article will discover the definition of border and boundary, their origins, uses, anecdotes, and much more relevant information.

What Does The Word «Border» Mean?

The word border is a very versatile term nowadays. Below we will review its most common meanings.

«Border» As A Verb

• To put an edge on something. To the border.
• To touch an edge or limit.
• To be on the border of a territory.
• To approach the nature or essence of a finished thing.

«Border» As A Noun

• The outer edge of something.
• A decorative strip around something.
• A strip of land where people grow decorative plants.
• Borderline or area dividing political or geographic regions.
• A vigorous style of traditional English dance comes from the villages on the border between England and Wales. A group of dancers performs this dance who usually have their faces painted black.

The Origin Of The Word «Border»

The word border does not have many detailed references about its origin. Some centuries ago, in the era before modernism, the term «border» was vague and referred to either side of a boundary.

In the past, borders were not very well-defined lines. Instead of borders, there were in-between zones that people often claimed. These claims generated fighting between sides to gain the coveted territory. Some of the specific historical facts about the origin of the «border» are:

• In the mid-14th century, the «border» had the meaning of «broadband of color surrounding a shield.»
• Another concept of the «border» came from Old French, to define it as «seam, edge of a shield and border.»
• From the late 14th century, people defined «border» as «end, side, edge, margin.»
• For the time, another concept of «border» was the «ornamental end that surrounds a plate or garment.»
• Also, at the end of the 14th century, the definition of «limit of a city or country» arose. People also defined it as a «border region, district located within the limits of a country.»
• In 1827, in the United States, «border» was «the line that divides the wild and civilized regions of the country.»

What Does The Word «Boundary» Mean?

Now it is the turn of the word «boundary» to review some of its primary meanings.

• It is the line or place of separation between two areas.
• In cricket, it is the edge or line that marks the boundary of the field of play.
• In cricket, it is a play where a player hits the ball over a specific boundary. This play usually awards 4 or 6 runs to the team that is batting.
• In mathematics, it is the set of points that do not belong to the interior of that set.

What Is The Origin Of The Word «Boundary»?

The term boundary also does not have much information to support its early uses in detail. However, let’s check the available data to understand this word a little more.

• «Boundary» is not as old as «border.» Experts say they have a record of its first use in the year 1626.
• «Boundary» comes from the Old French «bodne» and the Middle Latin «bodina,» and its meaning at that time was «boundary.»
• Other experts believe that «boundary» directly influences the Middle Latin word «bonnarium,» meaning «piece of land within a fixed boundary.»

The Close Relationship Between Border And Boundary

«Border» and «boundary» are words that have a very close relationship since they both enclose the sense of what divides a political entity or group. Both words maintain a distance determined by a very fine thread. It is not surprising that people and even many experts in communication and linguistics use these terms as synonyms. Some of the concepts where both words conclude are:

• To mention the line that demarcates the extension of a country, city, state, or territory.
• When a person uses the words to refer to a physical feature that determines the line that separates two political units.
• To mention a region that is close to a dividing line.

How Do People Use The Word «Border»?

The word «border» has an essential range of uses; for this reason, we will study some of them.

Natural Borders

People use the word «border» to refer to natural borders. Natural borders are geographical features that represent obstacles in nature to communication and fluid transportation.

Landscape Borders

This type of border combines political and natural borders. Usually, this type of border is political since the creation of a treaty creates it. In addition, the natural landscape that defines it is not natural but made by man.

Geometric Borders

These borders have straight lines, similar to lines of longitude and latitude. These borders are also political.

Fiat Borders

These borders are those that do not depend on a geographical accident. They are borders that are the product of human differentiation, such as electoral districts.

How Do People Use The Word «Boundary»?

In the following sections, we will study some of the most common uses of the word «boundary.»

Superimposed Boundaries

This concept is a type of boundary where an external or conquering power imposes on a region. This boundary ignores the natural or geographical demarcations of a territory.

Personal Boundaries

These boundaries are the physical and emotional limits that a person establishes with his environment. This type of boundary varies from person to person.

Maritime Boundary

A maritime boundary divides the ocean into zones controlled by different governments.

More Great Word Comparison Posts

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Examples Of The Use Of The Words «Border» And «Boundary» In Everyday Sentences

I’m glad we’ve reached this point. In this final section, we will see some examples of sentences with the words «border» and «boundary.»

Examples With The Word «Border»

• We are at the border of a restricted area. I think it’s best if we go back.
• This weekend we are going to a beach that is right on the border of the two states.
• I hadn’t noticed until today how nice the border of the plate is.
• Don’t bother John today. He’s on the border of his boundary.

Examples With The Word «Boundary»

• The tree in the corner is the one that tells me which are the boundaries of my property.
• The landscape that marks the boundary between the two countries is entirely artificial.
• I think it is healthy to establish certain boundaries at the beginning of the relationship.
• The district tried to modify the boundaries of its extension, but the move backfired.

A Final Thought On Border And Boundary

Language, verbal or written, is an essential aspect of relating to other people. If we do it in the right way, our exchange of information will be more enriching every day.

Today we reviewed and understood all the aspects that have to do with the words «border» and «boundary.» This path of knowledge reiterates the great importance of the correct use of words to understand our environment clearly and without misunderstandings.

граница, бордюр, край, кайма, ободок, фриз, граничить, окаймлять, обшивать, походить

существительное ↓

глагол ↓

Словосочетания

a broad red border on each plate — широкая красная кайма на каждой тарелке  
a path bordered by a high brick wall — дорожка вдоль высокой кирпичной стены  
closed border — закрытая граница  
common border — общая граница  
disputed border — спорные пограничные территории  
fixed border — установленная граница  
open border — открытая граница  
unguarded border — неохраняемая граница  
to draw / establish / fix a border — провести границу, установить границу  
to cross / slip across a border — перейти границу, пересечь границу  
to patrol a border — охранять границу  
to smuggle goods across a border — переправлять контрабандный груз через границу  

Примеры с переводом

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

Возможные однокоренные слова

borderer  — житель пограничной полосы
borderless  — безграничный, бесконечный
bordered  — окаймленный
bordering  — окаймление, кайма, обвалование, ограничение
emborder  — окаймлять

Формы слова

verb
I/you/we/they: border
he/she/it: borders
ing ф. (present participle): bordering
2-я ф. (past tense): bordered
3-я ф. (past participle): bordered

noun
ед. ч.(singular): border
мн. ч.(plural): borders

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Inherited from Middle English bordure, from Old French bordeure, of Germanic origin, from Frankish *bord, equivalent to modern French bord (“a border”) + -er.

Akin to Middle High German borte (“border, trim”), German Borte (“ribbon, trimming”). Doublet of bordure. More at board.

Pronunciation[edit]

• (with the horse-hoarse merger)
  • (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈbɔədə/
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbɔːdə/
  • (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈboɹdɚ/, [ˈbo̞ɹdɚ]
  • Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)də(ɹ)
  • Homophone: boarder (with the horse-hoarse merger)

• (without the horse–hoarse merger)
  • (rhotic) IPA^(key): /ˈbɔːɹdɚ/
  • (non-rhotic) IPA^(key): /ˈbɔːdə/

Noun[edit]

border (countable and uncountable, plural borders)

1. The line or frontier area separating political or geographical regions.
   • 2013, Nicholas Watt and Nick Hopkins, Afghanistan bomb: UK to ‘look carefully’ at use of vehicles(in The Guardian, 1 May 2013)

     The Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday the men had been killed on Tuesday in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, on the border of Kandahar just north of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

   • 23 June 2018, Mattha Busb, The Independent, Jogger crosses US-Canada border by mistake, is held for two weeks in detention centre

     A French tourist who accidentally crossed the border into the US from Canada during an evening jog was sent to a detention centre 125 miles away and held for two weeks until she was released.

   The border between Canada and USA is the longest in the world.

2. The outer edge of something.

   the borders of the garden

   • 1843, Jeremy Bentham, Principles of Morals and Legislation, Fragment on Government, Civil Code, Penal Law

     upon the borders of these solitudes

   • a. 1678 (date written)​, Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number). The Danger and Mischief of Delaying Reptentance”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830–1831, →OCLC:

     in the borders of death

3. A decorative strip around the edge of something.

   There’s a nice frilly border around the picture frame.

   a solid border around a table of figures

4. A strip of ground in which ornamental plants are grown.
5. (Britain, uncountable) border morris or border dancing; a vigorous style of traditional English dance originating from villages along the border between England and Wales, performed by a team of dancers usually with their faces disguised with black makeup.
6. (computing) A string that is both a prefix and a suffix of another particular string.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

border (third-person singular simple present borders, present participle bordering, simple past and past participle bordered)

1. (transitive) To put a border on something.
2. (transitive) To form a border around; to bound.
3. (transitive) To lie on, or adjacent to, a border of.

   Denmark borders Germany to the south.

4. (intransitive) To touch at a border (with on, upon, or with).

   Connecticut borders on Massachusetts.

5. (intransitive) To approach; to come near to; to verge (with on or upon).
   • a. 1694, John Tillotson, The Folly of Scoffing at Religion

     Wit which borders upon profaneness […] deserves to be branded as folly.

Derived terms[edit]

• border on
• cross-border

Translations[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

• roberd

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From bord +‎ -er, of Germanic origin.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /bɔʁ.de/

Verb[edit]

border

1. to border (add a border to)
2. to border (share a border with)
3. to tuck in

Conjugation[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

• avoir le cul bordé de nouilles

Further reading[edit]

• “border”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Anagrams[edit]

• broder, rebord

Middle English[edit]

Noun[edit]

border

1. Alternative form of bourdour

Norwegian Bokmål[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• bord

Noun[edit]

border n

1. indefinite plural of bord

Etymology 2[edit]

Noun[edit]

border m

1. indefinite plural of bord

What do we mean by border?

A part that forms the outer edge of something. noun

A decorative strip around the edge of something, such as fabric. noun

A strip of ground, as at the edge of a garden or walk, in which ornamental plants or shrubs are planted. noun

The line or frontier area separating political divisions or geographic regions; a boundary. noun

To lie along or adjacent to the border of. intransitive verb

To put a border on. intransitive verb

To lie adjacent to another. intransitive verb

To be almost like another in character. intransitive verb

To make a border about; adorn with a border: as, to border a garment or a garden.

To form a border or boundary to.

To lie on the border of; be contiguous to; adjoin; lie next.

To confine or keep within bounds; limit.

To have a contiguous boundary or dividing line; abut exteriorly: with on or upon: as, the United States border on the two great oceans.

A side, edge, brink, or margin; a limit or boundary. noun

The line which separates one country, state, or province from another; a frontier line or march. noun

The district or territory which lies along the edge or boundary-line of a country; the frontier; specifically, in the plural, the marches or border districts: hence, in English and Scottish history, “the borders,” the districts adjoining the line separating the two countries. noun

Territory; domain. noun

Figuratively, a limit, boundary, or verge; brink: as, he is on the border of threescore; driven by disaster to the border of despair; “in the borders of death,” noun

A strip, band, or edging surrounding any general area or plane surface, or placed along its margin, and differing from it by some well-defined character, as in material, color, design, or purpose. noun

In heraldry, the outer edge of the field when of different tincture from the center. Its width is uniform, and should be one fifth the width of the field. French heralds consider the border as one of the ordinaries; in English heraldry it is sometimes a mark of difference. The border always covers the end of any ordinary, as the chevron, fess, etc. When a coat of arms is impaled with another, if either of them has a border, it is not carried along the pale, but surrounds the outside of the field only. The border when charged with an ordinary shows only so much of the ordinary as comes naturally upon that part of the field occupied by the border; thus, the cut represents a border paly of six pieces, azure and argent. noun

The outer edge of something.

A decorative strip around the edge of something.

A strip of ground in which ornamental plants are grown.

The line or frontier area separating political or geographical regions.

Border morris or border dancing; a vigorous style of traditional English dance originating from villages along the border between England and Wales, performed by a team of dancers usually with their faces disguised with black makeup.

A string that is both a prefix and a suffix of another particular string.

A line or area between two places which is usually closed off or illegal to cross. Urban Dictionary

N.
State of being more bored that something less bored. Urban Dictionary

The entrance to the country that is COMPLETELY FUCKING WORTHLESS because stupid ass ilegal imigrants move across it every day… Urban Dictionary

A person who is staying at your house, jackin your food and taking up space Urban Dictionary

Trumps enemy. Urban Dictionary

Swear to god, definitely true, not lying; originated in northeast massachusetts Urban Dictionary

Large corporate bookstore that are frequently seen in Suburban areas. Very similar to Barnes and Noble. They have all sorts of books, cd’s, accessories, and a cafe with some great food. The atmosphere tends to be very liberal, and a huge bloc of clientel/staff are college students. Urban Dictionary

Usually something you do (you put your hands fingers touching in the well known «gate position») when someone says something that crosses a line usually followed up by simply saying «border» or «border line». This is usually done silently and with a very serious face for the full effect. Urban Dictionary

1. Lines arbitrairily drawn on a map that make up a countries.
2. Complete human constructs.
3. Can cause mass confusion and hysteria when directly connected with imperialism. Urban Dictionary

The line that is supposed to keep Mexicans out of the U.S.
Well, that worked. Urban Dictionary