Outer

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈaʊtə/

Definitions

1. A position or layer located farthest from the core or center can refer to the external layer of a physical entity as well as the aspect that surrounds or envelops the inner parts
2. The layer that is situated at the greatest distance from the center or core encompasses the external surface surrounding all inner components
3. Located at the greatest distance from the central point or core ; positioned on or relating to the exterior part or surface

Etymology: Outer is a plain comparative built on "out". Its ancestor in Old English, "ūtre" (also "ūtera" and "ūterra"), was formed by adding the comparative ending "-er" to "ūt", the word for "out", so the sense "more out" gave rise to "farther out." The same pattern shows up across the Germanic languages: German has "äußere", Swedish "yttre", and Icelandic "ytri", all meaning "outer." English later split the older form into two words. "Outer" and "utter" are a doublet, two words from one source that took different paths, and "utter" kept a sense of "outermost" that eventually became "complete" or "absolute." Because "outer" is a comparative, it carries the notion of a contrast with something inner, which is why the word sits so naturally beside "inner."

Synonyms: external, outside, exterior, outward, surface

Antonyms: inner, internal, inside, central, core