margin
noun OPAL W
/ˈmɑːdʒɪn/
/ˈmɑːrdʒɪn/
[countable]- the empty space at the side of a written or printed page
- the left-hand/right-hand margin
- a narrow/wide margin
- in the margin notes scribbled in the margin
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- generous
- wide
- narrow
- …
- adjust
- leave
- set
- …
- at the margin
- in the margin
- [usually singular] the amount of time, or number of votes, etc. by which somebody wins something
- He won by a narrow margin.
- by a margin of something She beat the other runners by a margin of ten seconds.
- Members voted by a margin of 7–1 to become a public limited company.
Extra Examples- He had an 18-second margin over his nearest rival.
- He won by the narrowest of margins.
- The amendment passed by an overwhelming margin.
- The election is likely to be decided by razor-thin margins.
- The winning margin was only 8 seconds.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- winning
- comfortable
- considerable
- …
- have
- by a margin
- margin over
- by the largest, narrowest, etc. of margins
- a margin of victory
- (also profit margin)(business) the difference between the cost of buying or producing something and the price that it is sold for
- What are your average operating margins?
- a gross margin of 45 per cent
Extra ExamplesTopics Businessc1- How does the company get by with such razor-thin margins?
- The company relies on fat margins from luxury models.
- They are operating at very low margins.
- They hope to improve their margins on computers.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- fat
- high
- large
- …
- achieve
- have
- operate at
- …
- increase
- widen
- narrow
- …
- at a margin
- margin on
- [usually singular] an extra amount of something such as time, space, money, etc. that you include in order to make sure that something is successful
- a safety margin
- The narrow gateway left me little margin for error as I reversed the car.
Extra Examples- The schedule left no margin for error.
- We have substantial reserves, which provide a good margin for uncertainties.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- good
- greater
- wide
- …
- allow (somebody/something)
- give (somebody/something)
- leave
- …
- margin for
- a margin for error
- a margin of error
- a margin of safety
- …
- (formal) the extreme edge or limit of a place
- the eastern margin of the Indian Ocean
- [usually plural] the part that is not included in the main part of a group or situation synonym fringe
- on the margins of something people living on the margins of society
- (Australian English, New Zealand English) an amount that is added to a basic wage, paid for special skill or responsibility
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin margo, margin- ‘edge’.