brink

/brɪŋk/

/brɪŋk/

Other forms: brinks

The brink of something is the very edge of it. If you want to give your mom a good scare, stand on the brink of a steep cliff and slowly lean forward.

The noun brink describes the edge of a steep drop-off or slope, or the edge of a boundary marking where something begins, like the brink of a pond. Brink also describes the figurative edge or start of something. Nations on the brink of war are very close to mobilizing troops; if you are on the brink of losing your temper, you might try walking away or slowly counting to ten.

Definitions of brink

1. noun

   the edge of a steep place
   type of:

   border, edge

   the boundary of a surface
2. noun

   the limit beyond which something happens or changes
   “on the brink of bankruptcy”

   synonyms: cusp, verge

   types:

   precipice

   the brink of a dangerous or potentially disastrous situation

   type of:

   bound, boundary, limit

   the greatest possible degree of something
3. noun

   a region marking a boundary
   synonyms: threshold, verge

   type of:

   bound, boundary, edge

   a line determining the limits of an area