What does fringe mean?
Word: Fringe
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Fringe means a border of loose threads along the edge of cloth; hair cut short across the forehead; or the outer edge of a place or group.
Synonyms: border, edge, margin
Antonyms: centre, middle
How do you spell fringe?
Syllables: fringe
Tricky part: There is no d before the ge: fridge has one, but fringe does not, so frindge is a common slip.
Watch out for: frindge, freinge, frinnge
Memory tip: A fringe hangs at the edge; picture the d of fridge snipped off and dropped on the floor.
Fringe in a sentence
Example 1: Her scarf had a golden fringe that swung as she danced.
Example 2: The barber cut my fringe so it no longer fell into my eyes.
Example 3: Our house is on the fringe of the town, close to the fields.
Fun Fact
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland, where almost anyone can put on a show, is often called the largest arts festival in the world.
Practise the CREST Way
Sound Check
In which word is 'g' pronounced differently?
a) plunge
b) fringe
c) finger
d) sponge
Show answer
c) finger. Finger has a hard sound, as in go; the other three end with a soft sound, as in jam.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with their meanings:
1. fringe 2. frill 3. hem a. a border of hanging threads along the edge of cloth b. the edge of a piece of cloth, folded and sewn down c. a strip of cloth with many folds, sewn on as decoration
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
b) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Show answer
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b. Hanging threads make a fringe, gathered folds make a frill and a folded, stitched edge is a hem.
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
frin__
a) ge
b) ji
c) je
d) gi
Show answer
a) ge. The soft sound at the end is spelt ge, as in hinge.
Spell Spies
Choose the pair which has a spelling error:
a) badge : badges
b) judge : juges
c) fringe : fringes
d) cage : cages
Show answer
b) judge : juges. Judge keeps its d when it becomes judges.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A village on the fringe of a forest is ____.
a) far away from it
b) high up in the trees
c) deep in the middle of it
d) close to where it ends
Show answer
d) close to where it ends
2. What often has a fringe?
a) a pencil
b) a brick
c) a shawl
d) a spoon
Show answer
c) a shawl
