/pə'rɪfərɪ; pə`rɪfərɪ/
n (fml 文)
1 (a) boundary of a surface or an area 外围; 边缘.
(b) area near this on either side 外围或边缘的地方
*industrial development on the periphery (ie outskirts) of the town 郊区的工业发展.
2 (fig 比喻) (esp in social, political or intellectual life) position far away from the centre; the fringe （尤指社交、政治或文化生活的）外围, 边缘
*The ideas are also expressed by minor poets on the periphery of the movement. 该运动外围一些不大出名的诗人也表达了这些观点.
3 (also pe,ripheral de`vice) (computing 计) device attached to a computer that transfers information into or out of the computer 外围设备
*display units, printers and other peripherals 显示装置、打印机及其他外部设备.

npluralperipheries
formal
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French;Origin: periferie, from Late Latin, from Greek, from peripherein 'to carry around']
[C usually singular]
the edge of an area
periphery of
　the periphery of the crowd
on/at the periphery
　a residential area on the periphery of the city
→outskirts
on/at the periphery (of sth)
a person or thing that is on the periphery of something is not one of the main people or things involved in it
　extremists on the periphery of the animal rights movement
　Homeopathy is on the periphery of medical practice.