Kresa

Kresa is a Polish noun meaning edge, border, crease, or margin. The core sense is a visible line that marks the boundary of a surface or object. It is used in everyday speech to describe creases in fabric, the border of a page, or the silhouette of a drawing.

In geography and cartography, kresa denotes a boundary line between features, such as coastlines, political borders, or the edge of a map feature. In anatomy and biology, the term can refer to a ridge or line on a bone or organ, a marking that differentiates regions. In art, design, and fashion, kresa describes the contour or outer line of a form, influencing the perception of shape and definition.

Etymologically, kresa is of Slavic origin and appears in Polish dictionaries as a neutral, general term with several related senses centered on lines and boundaries. Related words include kreska, a diminutive or more specific sense of line, and kontur, meaning contour.

The word is primarily used in Polish-language contexts and is not typically capitalized unless it appears in a title or as part of a proper name. In translation, kresa is often rendered as edge, border, crease, or contour, depending on the surrounding context.