hem
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++hem1 /hem/ noun [countable] 1.DCCthe edge of a piece of cloth that is turned under and stitched down, especially the lower edge of a skirt, trousers etc 〔衣服的〕褶边► see thesaurus at edge
Examples from the Corpus
hem• There are two zipped pockets and knitted hem and cuffs.• The peripheral hem blew back over the canopy, dividing it into two lobes.• The gun hangs down below the hem of her skirt.• Through the Moon, the hems become linked to the body power of menstruation.• The arms of the tee shirt barely rounded the curve of his shoulders, the hem hung an inch above his navel.• Justice Thomas is on the court, with mud clinging to the hem of his robe.hem2 verb (hemmed, hemming) 1. [transitive]DCC to turn under the edge of a piece of material or clothing and stitch it in place 给…缝褶边2. hem and haw American EnglishPAUSE to keep pausing before saying something, and avoid saying it directly 〔说话时〕吞吞吐吐，支支吾吾 SYN British English hum and haw3 hem somebody/something ↔ in phrasal verb a) AROUND/ROUNDto surround someone or something closely 把〔某人或某物〕围住 They were hemmed in on all sides by the soldiers and the dogs. 他们被士兵和狗团团围住。 The market place is hemmed in by shops and banks. 市场周边商店和银行林立。b) FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANTCAN'Tto make someone feel that they are not free to do what they want to do 限制 They hem in the child with endless rules and restrictions. 他们用没完没了的规定来限制那个孩子。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
hem• Soares hemmed a bit, then admitted he had been speeding.• He hemmed, he hawed, he guffawed.• Depression had descended on her, hemmed in by all these people, driving along a straight dreary road.• She is, however, hemmed in by the Adversary.• From the very start he has been the man in the middle, thwarted in front and hemmed in on the rear.• As employees feel themselves hemmed in, they become frustrated and angry.• Either way Norman Lamont is hemmed in with little scope for escape.Origin hem1 Old English Corpus of cloth of a edge that piece the
hem
hem1 /hem/ 
noun [countable]
▪ 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.
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.
| I |
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| THESAURUS |
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| II |
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:
2. to make someone feel that they are not free to do what they want to do:
