Border Meaning
/ˈbɔə.də/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe line or frontier area separating political or geographical regions.
nounThe outer edge of something.
Sentence Examples
We camped on the border of the lake.
There's a checkpoint at the border where they look in your trunk.
They didn't reach the border until after dark.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The river forms a natural ____ between the two neighboring countries.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We had to show our passports before we could cross the international ____.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Old French bordeurebor. Middle English bordure English border 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. Further cognate to English board, Old Norse barð (“edge”), Swedish bård (“edge”), also English beard, German Bart (“beard”) (edge of the face) etc.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The identification of the border between England and Scotland always has been a source of interest to railway travellers. For many years, however, the exact points north of Berwick and Carlisle at which the Anglo-Scottish main lines passed from one country to the other were not defined, but the erection of clear and unmistakable lineside signs has put the matter beyond all doubt."
— 1950 January, “Crossing the Border”, in Railway Magazine, page 2:
"upon the borders of these solitudes"
— 1843, Jeremy Bentham, Principles of Morals and Legislation, Fragment on Government, Civil Code, Penal Law:
"in the borders of death"
— a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number)”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830–1831, →OCLC:
"Wit which borders upon profaneness […]deserves to be branded as folly."
— 1671, John Tillotson, “Sermon II. The Folly of Scoffing at Religion. 2 Pet[er] III. 3.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The river forms a natural ____ between the two neighboring countries.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We had to show our passports before we could cross the international ____.