Main Entry: pe·riph·ery

Pronunciation: \pə-ˈri-f(ə-)rē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural -er·ies

Etymology: Middle French peripherie, from Late Latin peripheria, from Greek periphereia, from peripherein to carry around, from peri- + pherein to carry — more at bear

Date: 1571

1 : the perimeter of a circle or other closed curve; also : the perimeter of a polygon
2 : the external boundary or surface of a body
3 a : the outward bounds of something as distinguished from its internal regions or center : confines b : an area lying beyond the strict limits of a thing