hem
[noun]
Synonyms:
- edge, border, fringe, margin, trimming
[verb]
Synonyms:
- hem in: surround, beset, circumscribe, confine, enclose, restrict, shut in

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English Thesaurus: edge, side, rim, margin, hem, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. hem¹ /hem/ noun [countable]
[Language: Old English]
the edge of a piece of cloth that is turned under and stitched down, especially the lower edge of a skirt, trousers etc

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. hem² verb (past tense and past participle hemmed, present participle hemming)

1. [transitive] to turn under the edge of a piece of material or clothing and stitch it in place

2. hem and haw American English to keep pausing before saying something, and avoid saying it directly
hem somebody/something ↔ in phrasal verb

1. to surround someone or something closely:
They were hemmed in on all sides by the soldiers and the dogs.
The market place is hemmed in by shops and banks.

2. to make someone feel that they are not free to do what they want to do:
They hem in the child with endless rules and restrictions.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

edge the part of something that is furthest from its centre or nearest the place where it ends:
He got up quickly, knocking his plate off the edge of the table.
the outer edge of the village
side the part of something that is near its left or right edge:
On the left side of the garden there was an old stone wall.
They parked by the side of the road.
rim the edge of something circular, especially the top of a cup or glass, or the outside edge of a pair of glasses:
a white cup with a gold rim
She was looking at me over the rim of her spectacles.
margin the empty space at the side of a page that has writing on it:
My teacher had marked my essay and made some comments in the margin.
Leave wide margins on both sides of the page.
hem the edge of a piece of cloth that is turned under and stitched down, especially the lower edge of a skirt, trousers etc:
If you want the dress a bit shorter, I can easily turn up the hem.
kerb British English, curb American English the edge of the pavement (=raised path) at the side of a road:
A big black car was parked at the kerb.
outskirts the areas of a city that are furthest away from the centre:
The new station was built on the outskirts of the city.
perimeter the outside edge around an enclosed area of land such as a military camp or a prison:
Security guards patrol the perimeter night and day.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲