Rim

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ɹɪm/

Definitions

1. The circular boundary that outlines an object can provide both functional and decorative purposes while also defining its shape
2. An outer layer that encircles a circular form can significantly influence its appearance and stability
3. The outer boundary forming the circle of an object, often shaping its outline ; a border or frame surrounding an area or item to define or emphasize it

Etymology: Across the wider Germanic family, this root points less to edges than to support. Saterland Frisian "Rim" means a plank, wooden cross or trellis, while Icelandic "rimi" means a strip of land. Old Saxon "rimi" meant edge, border or trim, which is closer to the modern sense. All of these descend from a Proto-Germanic "rembô", meaning edge or border. English inherited the sense from Old English "rima", and Middle English spellings such as "rym" and "rime" show it being written down in several forms before the modern spelling settled. Its deeper origin may be the prehistoric root "remə-", meaning to rest or support. If so, the edge of a wheel and a plank that bears weight would share an ancestor, but that link remains uncertain.

Synonyms: edge, border, fringe, perimeter, margins

Antonyms: center, core, interior, heart, middle