margin-n; 5 Senses

Sense Number 1: a boundary area or edge of something

Commentary: MARGIN[+region][+boundary][+edge][+concrete/+abstract]

Examples:
There is a cottage at the margin of the woods.
My master document specifies a one-inch margin all around the text.
John wrote notes in the margins of his textbook.
That dress in on the margins of good taste. (figurative)
These people are living on the margin of society. (figurative)

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 5, 2

Sense Number 2: a financial profit

Commentary: MARGIN[+quantity][+amount][+money][+profit]

Examples:
Their margins on sales of computer hardware have gotten smaller in recent years.
The profit margins are enormous on designer handbags.
My margin for each pie sold will be about fifteen cents.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 3: a security deposit on a larger amount of credit

Commentary: MARGIN[+quantity][+amount][+money][+credit][+collateral]

Examples:
Mary got a margin call from her futures broker.
You'll have to set up a margin account with your broker to sell options.
Buying stock on the margin can be dangerous.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 4: a quantitative leeway, allowance or latitude

Commentary: MARGIN[+quantity][+measure][+surplus][+leeway]

Examples:
We have left ourselves no margin of error.
There are safety margins factored into modern dive computers.
The margin of tolerance for this pattern is one-sixteenth of an inch.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 6

Sense Number 5: a quantitative majority

Commentary: MARGIN[+quantity][+measure][+surplus][+majority]

Examples:
The bill passed by a one-vote margin.
Their margin of victory was small but decisive.
The referendum passed by a only a narrow margin.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2