| fringe | 1. An ornamental appendage to the border of a piece of stuff, originally consisting of the ends of the warp, projecting beyond the woven fabric; but more commonly made separate and sewed on, consisting sometimes of projecting ends, twisted or plaited together, and sometimes of loose threads of wool, silk, or linen, or narrow strips of leather, or the like. 2. Something resembling in any respect a fringe; a line of objects along a border or edge; a border; an edging; a margin; a confine. "The confines of grace and the fringes of repentance." (Jer. Taylor) 3. <optics> One of a number of light or dark bands, produced by the interference of light; a diffraction band; called also interference fringe. 4. <botany> The peristome or fringelike appendage of the capsules of most mosses. See Peristome. <botany> Fringe tree, a small tree (Chionanthus Virginica), growing in the Southern United States, and having snow-white flowers, with long pendulous petals. Origin: OF, fringe, F. Frange, prob. Fr. L. Fimbria fibre, thread, fringe, cf. Fibra fibre, E. Fibre, fimbriate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| fringed | Furnished with a fringe. <botany> Fringed lear, a leaf edged with soft parallel hairs. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| capillary fringe | A zone immediately above the water table in which water is drawn upward from the water table by capillary action. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| costal fringe | An irregularly disposed collection of visible veins seen in the skin of people usually of or past middle age; it has no specific connection with any deep structure, such as the diaphragm, and no necessary connection with underlying visceral disease. Synonym: zona corona. (05 Mar 2000) |
| salaries and fringe benefits | The remuneration paid or benefits granted to an employee. (12 Dec 1998) |
| synovial fringe | Small vascular processes given off from a synovial membrane. Synonym: villi synoviales, synovial fringe, synovial tufts. (05 Mar 2000) |