Side vs. Edge — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 6, 2024
A side refers to a flat surface of a shape or the lateral part of an object, emphasizing its breadth, while an edge is the line where two sides meet, highlighting the boundary or sharp transition.
Difference Between Side and Edge
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A side is commonly understood as one of the flat surfaces or faces of a three-dimensional object or the lateral parts of something, indicating a broader, more expansive area. It serves to describe the dimensions or extent of an object, such as in geometric shapes (e.g., the sides of a square) or in everyday objects (e.g., the sides of a box). On the other hand, an edge refers to the line or boundary where two sides of an object meet, often characterized by a sharper transition or delineation. Edges can define the shape’s perimeter or outline and are critical in determining the object's geometry and structural integrity.
In geometry, the concept of a side is fundamental in describing shapes and forms, focusing on the extent of a surface within a boundary. Whereas, edges play a crucial role in defining the intersections that give a shape its form, such as the edges of a cube, which indicate where its faces meet. This distinction is important in mathematical descriptions and calculations, including area, volume, and other geometric properties.
Sides are often referenced when discussing the broad characteristics or features of an object, such as color, texture, or material. For instance, when referring to the side of a building, one might be discussing its facade or exterior surface. Conversely, edges are frequently discussed in contexts requiring precision or attention to detail, such as in manufacturing or design, where the quality of an edge might affect the functionality or aesthetic of a product.
The orientation and perspective of an observer also influence the distinction between side and edge. For example, in viewing a rectangular prism, what one perceives as a side from one viewpoint might appear as an edge from another, depending on the observer's angle relative to the object. This subjective aspect underscores the spatial and perceptual nuances in understanding and describing physical objects.
Despite their differences, sides and edges are interconnected concepts, each contributing to the overall understanding and description of three-dimensional objects. The side provides a sense of scope and surface, while the edge brings attention to form and transition, together creating a fuller picture of an object's geometry and character.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A flat surface or lateral part of an object.
The line where two sides meet.
Focus
Emphasizes breadth and area.
Highlights boundary and transition.
Geometric Role
Describes dimensions and extent of a shape.
Defines intersections and outlines of a shape.
Practical Use
Discussed in terms of broad characteristics.
Considered for precision and detailing.
Perception
Can vary based on observer’s orientation.
Markedly defines shape’s boundaries regardless of view.
Compare with Definitions
Side
A team or position in a competition.
Which side are you on in this debate?
Edge
A competitive advantage.
Their innovative design gave them an edge in the market.
Side
The lateral part of an object.
The side of the car was scratched.
Edge
Provide with an edge;
Edge a blade
Side
A boundary of a flat area.
They walked to the far side of the park.
Edge
The point of transition or change.
The technology was on the edge of a breakthrough.
Side
An aspect or feature.
We painted each side of the box a different color.
Edge
The brink or verge of something.
He stood on the edge of the cliff, looking down.
Side
A face of a geometric shape.
A cube has six sides, each a square.
Edge
A thin, cutting side of a blade.
The knife's edge was finely honed.
Side
A line bounding a plane figure.
Edge
The outside limit of an object, area, or surface
She perched on the edge of a desk
A willow tree at the water's edge
Side
A surface bounding a solid figure.
Edge
The sharpened side of the blade of a cutting implement or weapon
A knife with a razor-sharp edge
Side
A surface of an object, especially a surface joining a top and bottom
The four sides of a box.
Edge
A quality or factor which gives superiority over close rivals
His cars have the edge over his rivals'
Side
A surface of an object that lies on the left or right of that object as viewed from the front or back
From the shore, I watched my friends dive off the side of the boat.
Edge
Provide with a border or edge
The pool is edged with paving
Side
Either of the two surfaces of a thin, flat object
The front side of a piece of paper.
Edge
Move or cause to move gradually or furtively in a particular direction
Hazel quietly edged him away from the others
She tried to edge away from him
Side
The part within an object or area to the left or right of the observer or of its vertical axis.
Edge
Give an intense or sharp quality to
The bitterness that edged her voice
Side
The left or right half of the trunk of a human or animal body
Always sleeps on his side.
A side of beef.
Edge
Strike (the ball) with the edge of the bat; strike a ball delivered by (the bowler) with the edge of the bat
Haynes edged to slip
He edged a ball into his pad
Side
The space immediately next to someone
Stood at her father's side.
Edge
Ski with one's weight on the edges of one's skis
You will be edging early, controlling a parallel turn
Side
The space immediately next to something. Often used in combination
Courtside.
Dockside.
Edge
A thin, sharpened side, as of the blade of a cutting instrument.
Side
One of two or more contrasted parts or places within an area, identified by its location with respect to a center
The north side of the park.
Edge
The degree of sharpness of a cutting blade.
Side
An area separated from another area by an intervening feature, such as a line or barrier
On this side of the Atlantic.
The district on the other side of the railroad tracks.
Edge
A penetrating, incisive quality
"His simplicity sets off the satire, and gives it a finer edge" (William Hazlitt).
Side
One of two or more opposing individuals, groups, teams, or sets of opinions.
Edge
A slight but noticeable sharpness, harshness, or discomforting quality
His voice had an edge to it.
Side
One of the positions maintained in a dispute or debate.
Edge
Keenness, as of desire or enjoyment; zest
The brisk walk gave an edge to my appetite.
Side
A distinct aspect
The shy side of his personality.
Edge
The line or area farthest away from the middle
Lifted the carpet's edge.
Side
Line of descent
My aunt on my mother's side.
Edge
The line of intersection of two surfaces
The edge of a brick.
Side
An incomplete script that shows the lines and cues of a single performer only.
Edge
A rim or brink
The edge of a cliff.
Side
An incomplete script that shows only what is to be filmed on a specific day or shoot.
Edge
The point at which something is likely to begin
On the edge of war.
Side
Chiefly British In billiards, the spin given to a propelled ball by striking it off center.
Edge
A margin of superiority; an advantage
A slight edge over the opposition.
Side
Located on a side
A side door.
Edge
To give an edge to (a blade); sharpen.
Side
From or to one side; oblique
A side view.
Edge
To tilt (a ski or both skis) in such a way that an edge or both edges bite into the snow.
Side
Minor; incidental
A side interest.
Edge
To put a border or edge on
Edged the quilt with embroidery.
Side
In addition to the main part; supplementary
A side benefit.
Edge
To act as or be an edge of
Bushes that edged the garden path.
Side
To provide sides or siding for
Side a frame house with aluminum.
Edge
To advance or push slightly or gradually
The dog edged the ball with its nose.
Side
To be positioned next to
A couch that is sided by low tables.
Edge
To trim or shape the edge of
Edge a lawn.
Side
To align oneself in a disagreement
Sided with the conservatives in Congress.
Siding against the bill.
Edge
To surpass or beat by a small margin. Often used with out
The runner edged her opponent out at the last moment.
Side
A bounding straight edge of a two-dimensional shape.
A square has four sides.
Edge
To move gradually or hesitantly
The child edged toward the door.
Side
A flat surface of a three-dimensional object; a face.
A cube has six sides.
Edge
The boundary line of a surface.
Side
One half (left or right, top or bottom, front or back, etc.) of something or someone.
Which side of the tray shall I put it on?
The patient was bleeding on the right side.
Edge
(geometry) A one-dimensional face of a polytope. In particular, the joining line between two vertices of a polygon; the place where two faces of a polyhedron meet.
Side
A region in a specified position with respect to something.
Meet me on the north side of the monument.
Edge
An advantage.
I have the edge on him.
Side
The portion of the human torso usually covered by the arms when they are not raised; the areas on the left and right between the belly or chest and the back.
I generally sleep on my side.
Edge
The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument, such as an ax, knife, sword, or scythe; that which cuts as an edge does, or wounds deeply, etc.
Side
One surface of a sheet of paper (used instead of "page", which can mean one or both surfaces.)
John wrote 15 sides for his essay!
Edge
A sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; an extreme verge.
The cup is right on the edge of the table.
He is standing on the edge of a precipice.
Side
One possible aspect of a concept, person, or thing.
Look on the bright side.
Edge
Sharpness; readiness or fitness to cut; keenness; intenseness of desire.
Side
One set of competitors in a game.
Which side has kick-off?
Edge
The border or part adjacent to the line of division; the beginning or early part (of a period of time)
In the edge of evening
Side
A sports team.
Edge
(cricket) A shot where the ball comes off the edge of the bat, often unintentionally.
Side
A group of morris dancers who perform together.
Edge
(graph theory) A connected pair of vertices in a graph.
Side
A group having a particular allegiance in a conflict or competition.
In the Second World War, the Italians were on the side of the Germans until Italy switched sides in 1943.
Edge
(transitive) To move an object slowly and carefully in a particular direction.
He edged the book across the table.
The muggers edged her into an alley and demanded money.
Side
(music) A recorded piece of music; a record, especially in jazz.
Edge
(intransitive) To move slowly and carefully in a particular direction.
He edged away from her.
Side
Sidespin; english
He had to put a bit of side on to hit the pink ball.
Edge
(usually in the form 'just edge') To win by a small margin.
Side
A television channel, usually as opposed to the one currently being watched (from when there were only two channels).
I just want to see what's on the other side — James said there was a good film on tonight.
Edge
To hit the ball with an edge of the bat, causing a fine deflection.
Side
A dish that accompanies the main course; a side dish.
Do you want a side of cole-slaw with that?
Edge
(transitive) To trim the margin of a lawn where the grass meets the sidewalk, usually with an electric or gas-powered lawn edger.
Side
A line of descent traced through a particular parent, as distinguished from that traced through another.
His mother's side of the family
Edge
(transitive) To furnish with an edge; to construct an edging.
Side
(baseball) The batters faced in an inning by a particular pitcher.
Clayton Kershaw struck out the side in the 6th inning.
Edge
To furnish with an edge, as a tool or weapon; to sharpen.
Side
An unjustified air of self-importance.
Edge
(figurative) To make sharp or keen; to incite; to exasperate; to goad; to urge or egg on.
Side
(drama) A written monologue or part of a scene to be read by an actor at an audition.
Edge
To delay one's orgasm so as to remain almost at the point of orgasm.
Side
A root.
Edge
The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument; as, the edge of an ax, knife, sword, or scythe.
He which hath the sharp sword with two edges.
Slander,Whose edge is sharper than the sword.
Side
Being on the left or right, or toward the left or right; lateral.
Edge
Any sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; extreme verge; as, the edge of a table, a precipice.
Upon the edge of yonder coppice.
In worst extremes, and on the perilous edgeOf battle.
Pursue even to the very edge of destruction.
Side
Indirect; oblique; incidental.
A side issue; a side view or remark
Edge
The border or part adjacent to the line of division; the beginning or early part; as, in the edge of evening.
Side
Wide; large; long, pendulous, hanging low, trailing; far-reaching.
Edge
To furnish with an edge as a tool or weapon; to sharpen.
To edge her champion's sword.
Side
(Scotland) Far; distant.
Edge
To shape or dress the edge of, as with a tool.
Side
(intransitive) To ally oneself, be in an alliance, usually with "with" or rarely "in with"
Which will you side with, good or evil?
Edge
To furnish with a fringe or border; as, to edge a dress; to edge a garden with box.
Hills whose tops were edged with groves.
Side
To lean on one side.
Edge
To make sharp or keen, figuratively; to incite; to exasperate; to goad; to urge or egg on.
By such reasonings, the simple were blinded, and the malicious edged.
Side
To be or stand at the side of; to be on the side toward.
Edge
To move by little and little or cautiously, as by pressing forward edgewise; as, edging their chairs forwards.
Side
To suit; to pair; to match.
Edge
To move sideways; to move gradually; as, edge along this way.
Side
To work (a timber or rib) to a certain thickness by trimming the sides.
Edge
To sail close to the wind.
I must edge up on a point of wind.
Side
(transitive) To furnish with a siding.
To side a house
Edge
The boundary of a surface
Side
To provide with, as a side or accompaniment.
Edge
A sharp side formed by the intersection of two surfaces of an object;
He rounded the edges of the box
Side
To clear, tidy or sort.
Edge
A line determining the limits of an area
Side
Widely; wide; far.
Edge
The attribute of urgency;
His voice had an edge to it
Side
The margin, edge, verge, or border of a surface; especially (when the thing spoken of is somewhat oblong in shape), one of the longer edges as distinguished from the shorter edges, called ends; a bounding line of a geometrical figure; as, the side of a field, of a square or triangle, of a river, of a road, etc.
Edge
A slight competitive advantage;
He had an edge on the competition
Side
Any outer portion of a thing considered apart from, and yet in relation to, the rest; as, the upper side of a sphere; also, any part or position viewed as opposite to or contrasted with another; as, this or that side.
Looking round on every side beheldA pathless desert.
Edge
A strip near the boundary of an object;
He jotted a note on the margin of the page
Side
One of the halves of the body, of an animals or man, on either side of the mesial plane; or that which pertains to such a half; as, a side of beef; a side of sole leather.
One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side.
Edge
Advance slowly, as if by inches;
He edged towards the car
Side
A slope or declivity, as of a hill, considered as opposed to another slope over the ridge.
Along the side of yon small hill.
Edge
Provide with a border or edge;
Edge the tablecloth with embroidery
Side
The position of a person or party regarded as opposed to another person or party, whether as a rival or a foe; a body of advocates or partisans; a party; hence, the interest or cause which one maintains against another; a doctrine or view opposed to another.
God on our side, doubt not of victory.
We have not always been of the . . . same side in politics.
Sets the passions on the side of truth.
Edge
Lie adjacent to another or share a boundary;
Canada adjoins the U.S.
England marches with Scotland
Side
A line of descent traced through one parent as distinguished from that traced through another.
To sit upon thy father David's throne,By mother's side thy father.
Side
Fig.: Aspect or part regarded as contrasted with some other; as, the bright side of poverty.
Side
Of or pertaining to a side, or the sides; being on the side, or toward the side; lateral.
One mighty squadron with a side wind sped.
Side
Hence, indirect; oblique; collateral; incidental; as, a side issue; a side view or remark.
The law hath no side respect to their persons.
Side
Long; large; extensive.
His gown had side sleeves down to mid leg.
To insure a side-box station at half price.
Side
To lean on one side.
Side
To embrace the opinions of one party, or engage in its interest, in opposition to another party; to take sides; as, to side with the ministerial party.
All side in parties, and begin the attack.
Side
To be or stand at the side of; to be on the side toward.
His blind eye that sided Paridell.
Side
To suit; to pair; to match.
Side
To work (a timber or rib) to a certain thickness by trimming the sides.
Side
To furnish with a siding; as, to side a house.
Side
A place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location;
They always sat on the right side of the church
He never left my side
Side
One of two or more contesting groups;
The Confederate side was prepared to attack
Side
Either the left or right half of a body;
He had a pain in his side
Side
An extended outer surface of an object;
He turned the box over to examine the bottom side
They painted all four sides of the house
Side
A surface forming part of the outside of an object;
He examined all sides of the crystal
Dew dripped from the face of the leaf
Side
A line segment forming part of the perimeter of a plane figure;
The hypotenuse of a right triangle is always the longest side
Side
An aspect of something (as contrasted with some other implied aspect);
He was on the heavy side
He is on the purchasing side of the business
It brought out his better side
Side
A family line of descent;
He gets his brains from his father's side
Side
A lengthwise dressed half of an animal's carcass used for food
Side
An opinion that is held in opposition to another in an argument or dispute;
There are two sides to every question
Side
An elevated geological formation;
He climbed the steep slope
The house was built on the side of the mountain
Side
(sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist
Side
Take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for;
We all rooted for the home team
I'm pulling for the underdog
Are you siding with the defender of the title?
Side
Take the side of; be on the side of;
Whose side are you on?
Why are you taking sides with the accused?
Side
Located on a side;
Side fences
The side porch
The top shelf
Side
Added as a consequence or supplement;
A side benefit
Common Curiosities
Is the edge of a knife considered a side?
The edge of a knife is not considered a side but rather a sharpened line or boundary designed for cutting, emphasizing its functional aspect.
Can an object have sides without edges?
In geometric terms, sides and edges coexist; sides form the boundaries that create edges where they meet.
What defines a side?
A side is defined as a flat surface or lateral part of an object, emphasizing its area or extent.
How do sides and edges contribute to an object's geometry?
Sides provide information about the object's dimensions and surfaces, while edges help determine its shape and structural boundaries.
How is the concept of an edge used metaphorically?
Metaphorically, "edge" can describe a point of intense emotion, competition, or the forefront of innovation.
How does the concept of a side differ in geometry vs. everyday language?
In geometry, a side strictly refers to the surface of a shape, while in everyday language, it can also denote aspects or features of non-geometric objects.
What is an edge?
An edge is the line or boundary where two sides of an object meet, often marking a transition or delineation.
Can the perception of what constitutes a side change?
Yes, perception of a side can change based on the observer's viewpoint, highlighting the spatial relationship between the observer and the object.
Why are edges important in design and manufacturing?
Edges are crucial for precision, functionality, and aesthetics, affecting how parts fit together and the product's overall appeal.
What role do sides play in competitive contexts?
In competitive contexts, "side" refers to positions or teams, indicating alignment or opposition within a competition.
What does having an "edge" in business mean?
Having an "edge" in business implies a competitive advantage that sets one apart from competitors.
How do sides and edges relate to three-dimensional objects?
Sides describe the surfaces of three-dimensional objects, while edges define where these surfaces meet, together outlining the object's form.
Are edges always sharp?
Not all edges are sharp; the term can also refer to the defined boundary between two surfaces, regardless of sharpness.
Can a curve have an edge?
A curve itself is considered a smooth, continuous line but can form an edge where it meets another surface.
How do sides and edges affect the visual perception of an object?
Sides and edges affect visual perception by defining the object's shape, depth, and structure, influencing how it is viewed and understood.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
