Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

hem1

Syllabification: (hem)
Pronunciation: /hem/
Translate hem | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of hem

noun

  • the edge of a piece of cloth or clothing that has been turned under and sewn.

verb (hems, hemming, hemmed)

[with object]
  • 1turn under and sew the edge of (a piece of cloth or clothing).
  • 2 (hem someone/something in, usually be hemmed in) surround and restrict the space or movement of:he was hemmed in by the tables

Origin:

Old English, 'the border of a piece of cloth'. The verb senses date from the mid 16th century

hem in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of hem in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

More words in this category

Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

GET PRO ►

Shop for an Oxford dictionary
Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

monocular

/ məˈnɒkjʊlə /
adjective , noun
with, for, or in one eye …