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Definition of border noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    border

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//ˈbɔrdər//
     
    [countable]
     
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  1. 1the line that divides two countries or areas; the land near this line a national park on the border between Kenya and Tanzania Denmark's border with Germany in Vermont, near the Canadian border Nevada's northern border to cross the border to flee across/over the border border guards/controls a border dispute/incident a border town/state Topic CollocationsInternational Relationstrade
    • facilitate/regulate trade (with other countries)
    • form/join a trading bloc
    • live in/compete in a global/the world economy
    • support/promote free trade
    • adopt/call for/oppose protectionist measures
    • erect/impose/reduce/remove trade barriers
    • impose/lift/raise/eliminate import tariffs (on something)
    • have/run a huge/large/growing trade surplus/deficit
    • embrace/resist/drive globalization
    politics and law
    • handle/talk about/discuss foreign policy
    • pursue an aggressive/a hawkish foreign policy
    • require/use/conduct diplomacy
    • establish/break off/sever/restore diplomatic relations/ties
    • foster/promote/strengthen regional cooperation
    • facilitate/achieve economic/political integration
    • exercise/defend/protect/transfer/restore/regain national/state/full/limited sovereignty
    • consolidate/extend/lose/retain your power (in the region)
    • hold/maintain/change/alter/shift the balance of power (in the region)
    • cause/create/open/expose/heal/repair a deep/growing/major/serious rift between X and Y
    meetings and agreements
    • have/hold/host/attend an international conference/an economic forum/a G20 summit
    • lead/launch a new round of global/multilateral/world trade negotiations
    • send/head/lead/meet a high-level/an official/a trade delegation
    • facilitate/begin/start/continue/resume peace talks
    • be committed to/be opposed to/disrupt/undermine/derail/sabotage the peace process
    • negotiate/achieve a lasting political settlement
    • broker/sign a peace deal/agreement/treaty
    conflict
    • be/constitute/pose a threat to global security
    • compromise/endanger/protect national security
    • justify/be in favor of/support/be against/oppose military intervention
    • threaten/authorize/launch/take/support/oppose unilateral/preemptive military action
    • impose/enforce/lift/end economic sanctions/an arms embargo/a naval blockade
    • close/protect/secure/patrol the border
    • lead/be involved in a peacekeeping operation
    aid
    • negotiate/announce a $15 billion aid package/an economic stimulus package
    • send/provide/request/cut off military aid
    • bring/provide emergency/humanitarian relief
    • deliver/distribute medical supplies/food supplies
    • fund/run a foreign/a local/an international NGO
    • reduce/eradicate/combat/fight child/global/world poverty
  2. 2a strip around the edge of something such as a picture or a piece of cloth a pillowcase with a lace border
  3. 3(in a garden) a strip of soil that is planted with flowers, along the edge of the grass herbaceous borders
  4. 4the separation or distance between one thing or person and another It is difficult to define the border between love and friendship.
  5. Thesaurusborder
    • boundary
    • frontier
    • barrier
    These are all words for a line that marks the edge of something and separates it from other areas or things.
    • border the line that separates two countries or areas; the land near this line:a national park on the border between Montana and Wyoming
    • boundary a line that marks the edges of an area of land and separates it from other areas:The fence marked the boundary between my property and hers.
    border or boundary?
    • The point where you cross from one country to another is usually called the border. The line on a map that shows the border of a country can be called the boundary, but “boundary” is not used when you cross from one country to another:After the war, the national boundaries were redrawn. Thousands of immigrants cross the boundary every day.Boundary can also be a physical line between two places, for example between property belonging to two different people, marked by a fence or wall:the boundary fence/wall between the properties
    • frontier the border between two countries or areas; a line that marks the beginning of an unexplored or dangerous area:the frontier between Guatemala and Mexico The Ingalls family crossed the frontier in a covered wagon.
    • barrier something that exists between two places and prevents easy movement between them:The mountains form a natural barrier between the ocean and the desert.
    Patterns
    • across/along/on/over a/the border/boundary/frontier/barrier
    • at the boundary/frontier/barrier
    • the border/boundary/frontier with a place
    • the northern/southern/eastern/western border/boundary/frontier
    • a national/common/disputed border/boundary/frontier
See border in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary