Margin

English Meaning

A border; edge; brink; verge; as, the margin of a river or lake.

1. An edge and the area immediately adjacent to it; a border. See Synonyms at border.
2. The blank space bordering the written or printed area on a page.
3. A limit in a condition or process, beyond or below which something is no longer possible or acceptable: the margin of reality; has crossed the margin of civilized behavior.
4. An amount allowed beyond what is needed: a small margin of safety. See Synonyms at room.
5. A measure, quantity, or degree of difference: a margin of 500 votes.
6. Economics The minimum return that an enterprise may earn and still pay for itself.
7. Economics The difference between the cost and the selling price of securities or commodities.
8. Economics The difference between the market value of collateral and the face value of a loan.
9. An amount in money, or represented by securities, deposited by a customer with a broker as a provision against loss on transactions made on account.
10. Botany The border of a leaf.
11. To provide with a margin.
12. To be a margin to; border.
13. To inscribe or enter in the margin of a page.
14. Economics To add margin to: margin up a brokerage account.
15. Economics To deposit margin for: margin a transaction.
16. Economics To buy or hold (securities) by depositing or adding to a margin.