The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
n. The upper edge of a steep or vertical slope: the brink of a cliff.
n. The margin of land bordering a body of water.
n. The point at which something is likely to begin; the verge: "Time and again the monarchs and statesmen of Europe approached the brink of conflict” ( W. Bruce Lincoln). See Synonyms at border.
n. The edge, margin, or border of a steep place, as of a precipice; a bank or edge, as of a river or pit; a verge; a border; as, the brink of a chasm. Also used figuratively.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. The edge, margin, or border of a steep place, as of a precipice; a bank or edge, as of a river or pit; a verge; a border. Also Fig.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. The edge, margin, or border of a steep place, as of a precipice or the bank of a river; verge; hence, close proximity: as, “the precipice's brink,”
n. to be on the brink of ruin.
n.Synonyms See rim.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. the edge of a steep place
n. a region marking a boundary
n. the limit beyond which something happens or changes
Word Usage
"Kevin Nolan double puts Newcastle on the title brink"