the edge, rim, or margin of something

the verge of a desert; to operate on the verge of fraud.

the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs; brink

on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

a limiting belt, strip, or border of something.

British . a narrow strip of turf bordering on a pathway, sidewalk, roadway, etc.

a decorative border, as on or around an object, structural part, etc.

limited room or scope for something

an action within the verge of one's abilities.

an area or district subject to a particular jurisdiction.

History/Historical . an area or district in England embracing the royal palace, being the jurisdiction of the Marshalsea Court.

the part of a sloping roof that projects beyond the gable wall.

Architecture . the shaft of a column or colonette.

a rod, wand, or staff, esp. one carried as an emblem of authority or of the office of a bishop, dean, or the like.

Horology . a palletlike lever formerly used in inexpensive pendulum clocks.

Obsolete . a stick or wand held in the hand of a person swearing fealty to a feudal lord on being admitted as a tenant.

to be on the edge or margin; border

Our property verges on theirs.

to come close to or be in transition to some state, quality, etc. (usually fol. by on )

a statesman who verged on greatness; a situation that verged on disaster.

to serve as the verge or boundary of

a high hedge verging the yard.

noun

middle

verb

retreat

noun

border , borderline , boundary , brim , brink , edge , extreme , fringe , hem , lip , margin , point , rim , selvage , skirt , terminus , threshold , edging , periphery

verb

abut , adjoin , approach , be on the edge , border , bound , brink on , butt on , communicate , edge , end , fringe , gravitate toward , hem , incline , join , lean , line , march , margin , neighbor , outline , rim , skirt , surround , tend , touch , trench , trend , butt , meet , boundary , brim , brink , horizon , limit , lip , point , range , scope , slope , staff , threshold , wand

phrasal verb

approach , approximate , border on , challenge