Hem - English meaning

verb

Tie or fasten (something) tightly together.

Usage examples:

They bound her hands and feet

noun

A problematical situation.

Usage examples:

He is in a bind that gets worse with every passing minute

verb

To tie someone or something tightly, or to fasten things together

Usage examples:

The room was full of wooden boxes bound with twisted wire., fig. the club is home to a mix of peopl…

noun

A line separating two countries, administrative divisions, or other areas.

Usage examples:

Panama's western border with costa rica

verb

Form an edge along or beside (something).

Usage examples:

A pool bordered by palm trees

noun

The line that divides one country or place from another

Usage examples:

The rio grande forms part of the us border., the card has a pretty design around the border., [ t ]…

phrasal verb

Enclose or confine as if in a box

noun

A container where letters and other documents are put when they arrive in a person’s office

noun

A round plane figure whose boundary (the circumference) consists of points equidistant from a fixed point (the centre).

Usage examples:

Draw a circle with a compass

verb

Move all the way around (someone or something), especially more than once.

Usage examples:

They were circling athens airport

noun

A continuous curved line, the points of which are always the same distance away from a fixed central point, or the area inside such a line

Usage examples:

Coloured paper was cut into circles., we sat in a circle.

phrasal verb

Advance or converge on

phrasal verb

To move toward someone or something gradually and from all directions

Usage examples:

It felt as though the walls of the room were closing in on her.

collocation

Working closely together to create or achieve the same thing

Usage examples:

The director was in close collaboration with the playwright., i think you will find that they are g…

verb

Keep or restrict someone or something within certain limits of (space, scope, or time).

Usage examples:

He does not confine his message to high politics

noun

The borders or boundaries of a place, especially with regard to their restricting freedom of movement.

Usage examples:

Within the confines of the hall escape was difficult

verb

To keep someone or something within limits

Usage examples:

The animals were confined in a large pen., harris does not confine her stage work to broadway., can…

noun

The outside limit of an object, area, or surface.

Usage examples:

A willow tree at the water's edge

verb

Provide with a border or edge.

Usage examples:

The pool is edged with paving

verb

A line determining the limits of an area

noun

Something forming an edge or border.

Usage examples:

A chemise with lace edging

verb

Provide with a border or edge.

Usage examples:

The pool is edged with paving

noun

Something that is put around the outside of something, usually to decorate it

Usage examples:

A tablecloth with (a) dark edging

verb

Form a circle around; surround.

Usage examples:

The town is encircled by fortified walls

verb

To surround or form a circle around something

Usage examples:

A parking lot encircles the mall.

verb

To surround something, forming a circle around it

Usage examples:

The house is encircled by a high fence., villaverde is one of the high-rise districts that encircle…

verb

Surround or close off on all sides.

Usage examples:

The entire estate was enclosed with walls

verb

To surround

Usage examples:

The garden is enclosed by four walls., please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

verb

To include something inside a letter or parcel

Usage examples:

Apply in writing, enclosing a current cv, to the address below., please find enclosed an applicatio…

verb

Surround and have or hold within.

Usage examples:

This area of london encompasses piccadilly to the north and st james's park to the south

verb

To include different types of things

Usage examples:

The festival is to encompass everything from music, theatre, and ballet to literature, cinema, and …

noun

The side of a person's or animal's body between the ribs and the hip.

Usage examples:

Leaning against his horse's flanks

verb

Be on each or on one side of.

Usage examples:

The three defendants stood in the dock, flanked by police officers

noun

The area of the body between the ribs and the hips of an animal or a person

Usage examples:

He was experiencing a sharp pain in his flank., she dug her heels into the horse's flanks, urging i…

verb

Go or move in an exaggeratedly impatient or angry manner.

Usage examples:

He stood up in a fury and flounced out

noun

An exaggerated action intended to express annoyance or impatience.

Usage examples:

She left the room with a flounce

noun

A wide ornamental strip of material gathered and sewn to a skirt or dress; a frill.

Usage examples:

Miss howitt's dress was in the height of fashion; blue silk spencer over a white round dress with s…

noun

A strip of gathered or pleated material sewn on to a garment or larger piece of material as a decorative edging or ornament.

Usage examples:

It was pink, with frills around the collar and bottom hem.

noun

A long, narrow strip of folded cloth that is sewn along the edge of a piece of clothing or material for decoration

Usage examples:

The frills on that car are nice, but except for air-conditioning, i don’t want them.

noun

A long, narrow strip of cloth with folds along one side that is sewn along the edge of a piece of clothing or material for decoration

Usage examples:

You could always sew a frill or two around the bottom of the skirt if you think it's too plain.

noun

The border or outer edges of an area or group.

Usage examples:

The southern fringes of the city

adjective

Not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme.

Usage examples:

Fringe theatre

verb

Short for fringe benefit.

Usage examples:

We offer the highest salary and fringes in the country

verb

Encircle (a person or part of the body) with a belt or band.

Usage examples:

A young man was to be girded with the belt of knighthood

noun

A cutting or critical remark.

Usage examples:

His girds were oblique, and touched to the quick

verb

To tie something around your body or part of your body

Usage examples:

The knights girded themselves for battle (= put on their swords and fighting clothes).

noun

A belt or cord worn round the waist.

Usage examples:

Her waist was defined by a gold chain girdle

verb

Encircle (the body) with a girdle.

Usage examples:

The friar loosened the rope that girdled his waist

noun

A heavy, flat iron plate that is heated and used for cooking food; a griddle.

Usage examples:

Place a girdle or heavy non-stick frying pan on a medium heat.

noun

A container or device in which water is boiled, having a lid, spout, and handle.

Usage examples:

Reports from the prison say the officer was attacked by a prisoner with boiling water from a kettle…

verb

(of the police) confine (a group of demonstrators or protesters) to a small area, as a method of crowd control during a demonstration.

Usage examples:

The plan was to get as close to the protest as possible without getting kettled

noun

A metal pot with a lid for stewing or boiling

verb

Put a limit on; keep under control.

Usage examples:

Some roads may have to be closed at peak times to restrict the number of visitors

verb

To limit someone's actions or movement, or to limit the amount, size, etc., of something

Usage examples:

The government has so sharply restricted his fishing that he can barely pay his crew., the state le…

verb

To limit something, reduce its size, or prevent it from increasing

Usage examples:

If they want to restrict access to their pages, privacy controls are available., restrict the sale/…

noun

A small circular band, typically of precious metal and often set with one or more gemstones, worn on a finger as an ornament or a token of marriage, engagement, or authority.

Usage examples:

A diamond ring

verb

Surround (someone or something), especially for protection or containment.

Usage examples:

The courthouse was ringed with police

noun

An act of ringing a bell, or the resonant sound caused by this.

Usage examples:

There was a ring at the door

phrasal verb

Keep someone or something inside a place by closing something such as a door.

Usage examples:

Her parents shut her in an upstairs room

phrasal verb

To prevent someone or something from leaving a place, usually by closing or fastening a door or gate

Usage examples:

The cat was shut in the garage all night., he was so upset that he shut himself in his bedroom and …

phrasal verb

To catch part of your body or an object inside a device or container when it closes

Usage examples:

Steve was off work for a week after he shut his hand in the car door.

noun

A garment fastened around the waist and hanging down around the legs, worn by women and girls.

Usage examples:

After a swim, put on the wrap skirt over your bikini or swim suit, and go for a drink.

verb

Go round or past the edge of.

Usage examples:

He did not go through the city but skirted it

verb

A garment hanging from the waist

verb

Be all round (someone or something).

Usage examples:

The hotel is surrounded by its own gardens

noun

A thing that forms a border or edging round an object.

Usage examples:

An oak fireplace surround

verb

To be around something on all sides

Usage examples:

Snow-capped mountains surround the city., the house was surrounded by dense woods., i’m interested …

noun

A device or enclosure designed to catch and retain animals, typically by allowing entry but not exit or by catching hold of a part of the body.

Usage examples:

The squirrels ravaged the saplings, despite the baited traps

verb

Short for trapdoor.

verb

Put trappings on (a horse).

Usage examples:

The horses were trapped with black velvet

verb

Make (something) neat or of the required size or form by cutting away irregular or unwanted parts.

Usage examples:

Trim the grass using a sharp mower

noun

Additional decoration, typically along the edges of something and in contrasting colour or material.

Usage examples:

A red blazer with gold trim

adjective

Neat and smart in appearance; in good order.

Usage examples:

His face was freshly shaved, his clothes neat and trim

noun

Small pieces trimmed off something.

Usage examples:

Hedge trimmings

verb

Make (something) neat or of the required size or form by cutting away irregular or unwanted parts.

Usage examples:

Trim the grass using a sharp mower

noun

(a piece of) decorative material added around the edge of something

Usage examples:

I want a plain black cardigan with no fancy trimmings., i wore my red jacket with the black trim., …

noun

A length of decorative drapery attached to the canopy or frame of a bed in order to screen the structure or the space beneath it.

Usage examples:

The gripsholm bed is squarer and lower than the knole bed (it may have been cut down), with a more …

noun

A short piece of material that hangs down, usually around the base of a bed