- margin
- noun1 empty space at the side of a page in a book, etc.ADJECTIVE▪ generous, wide▪
Leave a generous margin on the left.
▪ narrow▪ left, right▪ left-hand, right-handVERB + MARGIN▪ adjust, leave, setPREPOSITION▪ at the margin▪Start writing at the left-hand margin.
▪ in the margin▪She scribbled notes in the margin.
2 space, time, votes, etc. by which sth is wonADJECTIVE▪ winning▪The winning margin was only 8 seconds.
▪ comfortable, considerable, greater, large, substantial, wide▪She was not daunted by this substantial margin of defeat.
▪ huge, overwhelming▪The amendment passed by an overwhelming margin.
▪ narrow, razor-thin (esp. AmE), slim, small▪The election is likely to be decided by razor-thin margins.
▪ clear, safe▪ three-to-one, two-to-one▪Her book outsold his by almost a two-to-one margin.
▪ 1 000-vote, 20-second, etc.▪He claimed the title with a slim 134 000-vote margin.
VERB + MARGIN▪ havePREPOSITION▪ by a margin▪She won by a clear margin.
▪ margin over▪He had an 18-second margin over his nearest rival.
PHRASES▪ by the largest, narrowest, etc. of margins▪He won by the narrowest of margins.
▪ a margin of victory3 amount of extra space, time, etc.ADJECTIVE▪ good, greater, wide▪Sales predictions are open to wide margins of error.
▪ narrow▪ adequate▪ generous▪ safetyVERB + MARGIN▪ allow (sb/sth), give (sb/sth), leave, provide▪The device gives a greater margin of safety.
PREPOSITION▪ margin for▪We have substantial reserves, which provide a good margin for uncertainties.
PHRASES▪ a margin for error, a margin of error▪The schedule left no margin for error.
▪ a margin of safety4 profitADJECTIVE▪ fat (esp. AmE), high, large▪The company relies on fat margins from luxury models.
▪ low, narrow, razor-thin (esp. AmE), small, thin, tight▪We're working to rather tight profit margins.
▪How does the company get by with such razor-thin margins?
▪ negative (esp. AmE)▪ gross, net▪ profit▪ operating, pre-tax, retail (esp. BrE)▪ average▪Today, average margins have slipped to just 4%.
VERB + MARGIN▪ achieve, have▪These manufacturers have high gross margins.
▪ operate at, operate on▪ improve, increase▪Higher productivity has enabled them to increase their profit margins.
▪ cut, cut into, erode, reduce, squeeze▪Price rises have eroded profit margins.
MARGIN + VERB▪ increase, widen▪ narrow, shrinkPREPOSITION▪ at a margin▪They are operating at very low margins.
▪ margin on▪They hope to improve their margins on computers.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
