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fence
[fens]
noun
a barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc., usually made of vertical posts connected with horizontal sections of sturdy material or materials, as wood, metal, vinyl, or wire, used to prevent entrance, to confine, or to mark a boundary.
Our garden fence is not high enough to keep the deer out.
Informal.Ģża person who receives and disposes of stolen goods.
the place of business of such a person.
the act, practice, art, or sport of fencing.
skill in argument, repartee, etc.
Machinery.Ģża guard or guide, as for regulating the movements of a tool or work.
Carpentry.Ģża slotted guide used especially with a framing square to lay out cuts on rafters and staircase strings.
Archaic.Ģża means of defense; a bulwark.
verb (used with object)
to enclose by some barrier, establishing exclusive right to possession.
to fence a farm.
to separate by or as by a fence or fences (often followed by in, off, out, etc.).
to fence off a corner of one's yard; to fence out unwholesome influences.
to defend; protect; guard.
The president was fenced by bodyguards wherever he went.
to ward off; keep out.
Informal.Ģżto sell (stolen goods) to a fence.
Nautical.Ģżto reinforce (an opening in a sail or the like) by sewing on a grommet or other device.
verb (used without object)
to practice the art or sport of fencing.
to parry arguments; strive to avoid giving direct answers; hedge.
The mayor fenced when asked if he would run again.
(of a horse) to leap over a fence.
Obsolete.Ģżto raise a defense.
fence
/ “ŚÉ²Ō²õ /
noun
a structure that serves to enclose an area such as a garden or field, usually made of posts of timber, concrete, or metal connected by wire, netting, rails, or boards
slangĢża dealer in stolen property
an obstacle for a horse to jump in steeplechasing or showjumping
machinery a guard or guide, esp in a circular saw or plane
a projection usually fitted to the top surface of a sweptback aircraft wing to prevent movement of the airflow towards the wing tips
to restore a position or reputation that has been damaged, esp in politics
to re-establish friendly relations (with someone)
unable or unwilling to commit oneself
informalĢżunreasonable, unfair, or unjust
to be unable or unwilling to commit oneself
verb
(tr) to construct a fence on or around (a piece of land, etc)
(tr; foll by in or off) to close (in) or separate (off) with or as if with a fence
he fenced in the livestock
(intr) to fight using swords or foils
(intr) to evade a question or argument, esp by quibbling over minor points
(intr) to engage in skilful or witty debate, repartee, etc
slangĢż(intr) to receive stolen property
archaicĢż(tr) to ward off or keep out
Other 51³Ō¹Ļ Forms
- fencelike adjective
- outfence verb (used with object)
- refence verb (used with object)
- unfence verb (used with object)
- well-fenced adjective
- Ė“Ś±š²Ō³¦±š±ō±š²õ²õ adjective
- Ė“Ś±š²Ō³¦±šĖ±ō¾±°ģ±š adjective
51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins
51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins
Origin of fence1
Idioms and Phrases
mend one's fences, to strengthen or reestablish one's position by conciliation or negotiation.
One could tell by his superficially deferential manner that he was trying to mend his fences.
on the fence, uncommitted; neutral; undecided.
The party leaders are still on the fence.
Example Sentences
The driveway gate of the waist-high chain-link fence dividing the front yard from the sidewalk was bent and mangled, lashed to a metal fence pole with white rope.
As the flames inched closer, to within a few feet, I backed up until I was trapped against a tall fence with nowhere left to go.
āMillions of dollars have been spent on ranges, tracking dogs, cameras, helicopters, fancy alarms and fences, and none of it was bending the curve or making a significant inroad in reducing poaching,ā Kuiper said.
The complaint noted that the parking lot is fenced and gated, but that, at the time of the interaction, the gate to the parking lot was open.
Video taken by a friend shows two agents holding Gavidia against a blue fence.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American HeritageĀ® Idioms Dictionary copyright Ā© 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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