The document defines several terms related to position and edges: 1. Beside means next to or very close to something or someone. It can also refer to being in comparison to something. 2. Edge refers to the outer limits or boundaries of an object or area, as well as the sharp part of a tool. It can also refer to being in a risky or unstable situation. 3. Nearly means almost but not completely, especially in comparison to another person or thing. It is usually used in a comparative sense.

1. beside preposition
1 next to or very close to the side of someone or something:
Wendy came up and sat beside me. the table beside the bed I was standing▪ ▪ ▪ right
beside her at the time.
2 in comparison with something or someone:
This year's sales figures don't look very good beside last year's results. The children seemed▪ ▪
tiny beside him.
Essay Activator▶▶ comparing and contrasting
3 be beside yourself to be feeling so angry, excited etc that you find it difficult to control
yourself:
The poor girl was almost beside herself.▪
be beside yourself with anger/excitement/rage etc
Mom and Dad will be beside themselves with worry.▪
4 be beside the point to not be directly connected with the main subject or problem that you
are talking about:
He's very charming, but that's beside the point.▪
besides adverb, preposition informal
1 spoken used when adding another reason:
I need the money. And besides, when I agree to do something, I do it.▪
2 in addition to someone or something else that you are mentioning:
The area has stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, and much more besides. People choose▪ ▪
jobs for other reasons besides money. Besides myself, the only English people there were▪
Keith and Doreen.
besides doing something Besides being heartbroken, she felt foolish.▪
box at➔ except
edge1 noun

2. 1 outside part [countable] the part of an object that is furthest from its centre:
Put the lamb in the centre of the dish, with the vegetables and herbs around the edge.▪
the edge of something
the right hand edge of the page Jennifer walked to the edge of the wood. Billy sat on the▪ ▪ ▪
edge of the bed.
He stood at the water's edge staring across the lake. A leaf was on the ground, curling up at▪ ▪
the edges.
2 blade [countable] the thin sharp part of a blade or tool that cuts: a knife with a sharp edge▪
3 advantage [singular, uncountable] something that gives you an advantage over others:
Companies are employing more research teams to get an edge. The next version of the▪ ▪
software will have the edge over its competitors.
4 on edge nervous, especially because you are expecting something unpleasant to happen:
Paul felt on edge about meeting Lisa.▪
5 voice [singular] a quality in someone's voice that makes it sound slightly angry or impatient:
There was an edge of hostility in Jack's voice. Desperation lent an edge to her voice.▪ ▪
6 slope [countable] an area beside a very steep slope:
She walked almost to the edge of the cliff.▪
7 on the edge of something close to the point at which something different, especially
something bad, will happen:
Their economy is on the edge of collapse. She is on the edge of despair.▪ ▪
8 quality [singular] a special quality of excitement or danger:
The school's campaign has been given an extra edge by being filmed for television.▪
9 take the edge off something to make something less bad, good, strong etc:
Pascoe was drinking whisky to take the edge off the pain.▪
10 on the edge of your seat giving all your attention to something exciting:
The film's ending had me on the edge of my seat.▪
11 be on the edge informal to be behaving in a way that makes it seem as if you are going crazy

3. ➔ cutting edge
nearly adverb
1 especially British English almost, but not quite or not completely synonym almost:
It took nearly two hours to get here. Michelle's nearly twenty. Is the job nearly finished?▪ ▪ ▪
Louise is nearly as tall as her mother. I▪ ▪ nearly always go home for lunch.
He▪ very nearly died. Mars is very nearly twice the diameter of the Moon and half the▪
diameter of Earth.
2 not nearly not at all: He's not nearly as good-looking as his brother. We've saved some▪
money, but it's not nearly enough.
STUDY NOTE: Grammar
Do not use nearly before negative words like 'no', 'nothing' etc. Instead, say hardly any, hardly
anything etc There was hardly any traffic (NOT nearly no traffic).▪