Meet at the centre first, then on the edge (8)
I believe the answer is:
converge
'meet' is the definition.
(I know that converge is a type of meet)
'the centre first then on the edge' is the wordplay.
'the centre first' becomes 'c' (vst letter of 'centre').
'then' says to put letters next to each other.
'the edge' becomes 'verge' (verge is a kind of edge).
'c'+'on'+'verge'='CONVERGE'
'at' is the link.
(Other definitions for converge that I've seen before include "tend to get together" , "Approach a single point" , "Come together" , "Come towards the same point like Congreve" , "Move towards or meet at a point" .)