hedge

noun

• a fence or boundary formed by closely growing bushes or shrubs:she was standing barefoot in a corner of the lawn, trimming the hedge
• a contract entered into or asset held as a protection against possible financial loss:inflation hedges such as real estate and gold
• a word or phrase used to allow for additional possibilities or to avoid commitment, for example, etc., often, usually, or sometimes.

verb

• 1surround or bound with a hedge:a garden hedged with yews
• (hedge something in) enclose.

• 2limit or qualify (something) by conditions or exceptions:experts usually hedge their predictions, just in case
• [no object] avoid making a definite decision, statement, or commitment:she hedged around the one question she wanted to ask

• 3protect (one’s investment or an investor) against loss by making balancing or compensating contracts or transactions:the company hedged its investment position on the futures market