:the outside edge of an area:the area that surrounds a place or thing外围;边缘 — often + of
A fence was built around the periphery of the site.工地周围修了围栏。
The factory is located on the periphery of the city.工厂位于城市外围。
— often used figuratively常用作比喻
the periphery of society社会边缘
There was little we could do as we watched the case unfold from the periphery. [=we were not actively involved so there was little we could do]我们只是从旁观察了事态的发展,所以没能做什么。