verge

Universal Words noun, verb noun (BrE) (AmE soft shoulder) a piece of grass at the edge of a path, road, etc: a grass verge IDIOMS on / to the verge of sth / of doing sth very near to the moment when sb does sth or sth happens: He was on the verge of tears. * They are on the verge of signing a new contract for a further two years' work. * These events left her on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. * These measures brought the republic to the verge of economic collapse. verb PHRASALVERBS verge on sth to be very close to an extreme state or condition SYNBORDERONSTH: Some of his suggestions verged on the outrageous. * a dislike verging on contempt * The fabric is very dark blue, verging on black.