edge // noun, verb

■ noun [sing.]

COMPETITIVE EDGE, CUTTING EDGE, LEADING EDGE

1

a slight advantage over sb/sth:

They have the edge in car design.

This technology gives us an edge over our rivals.

❖ to gain/have/keep/lose/maintain an edge (on/over sb/sth)

◆ sth gives you an edge (on/over sb/sth)

2 (usually the edge)

the point at which sth, especially sth bad, may begin to happen:

The country is on the edge of financial collapse.

IDIOMS

be on edge; put sb/sth on edge

to be nervous or uncertain:

The increasing oil price has put markets on edge.

Investors are on edge over the possibility of a general strike.

BRINK

■ verb [no obj] (used with an adverb or a preposition)

(used especially in newspapers) to increase or decrease slightly in value or level:

The share price edged up 1% to ¥5 350.

Inflation has edged below the 2% target.

The shares edged 1% higher.

The yen edged ahead of the the euro today. See note at INCREASE

• net interest margin
• netiquette
• net lending
• net present value
• net price
• net profit
• net realizable value
• net receipts
• net registered tonnage
• net revenue
• net sales
• net seller
• Net surfer
• net tangible assets
• net tonnage
• network
• network analysis
• networked
• networker
• networking
• network marketing
• net worth
• net wt.
• net yield
• newbie