Meaning & Definition
noun
A line or boundary marking the limits of an area; a dividing line.
The river serves as the natural boundary between the two countries.
A limit of a subject or sphere of activity; a defining line.
Setting clear boundaries in a relationship is essential for healthy communication.
An edge or limit; a point beyond which something does not or may not extend.
The researchers tested the boundaries of the theory with new evidence.
A conceptual limit; constraints on behavior or action.
In art, the boundary between creativity and madness can often be blurred.
Etymology
Late Middle English: from Old French ‘bonderie’, from the verb ‘bondir’ meaning ‘to surround’.
Common Phrases and Expressions
set boundaries:
to establish limits in a situation or relationship.
push the boundaries:
to exceed or extend the limits of something.
cross the boundary:
to go beyond the accepted limits.
Slang Meanings
No man's land
The area between the two rival gangs was considered no man's land.
The edge
He was living on the edge when he decided to quit his job without a backup plan.