hem 1
(hĕm)n.1. An edge or border on a piece of cloth, especially a finished edge, as for a garment or curtain, made by folding an edge under and stitching it down.
2. The height or level of the bottom edge of a skirt, dress, or coat; a hemline.
tr.v. hemmed,
hem·ming,
hems 1. To fold back and stitch down the edge of.
2. To surround and shut in; enclose:
a valley hemmed in by mountains. See Synonyms at
enclose.
[Middle English, from Old English hem, hemm.]
hem′mer n.
hem 2
(hĕm)n. A short cough or clearing of the throat made especially to gain attention, warn another, hide embarrassment, or fill a pause in speech.
intr.v. hemmed,
hem·ming,
hems 1. To utter a hem.
2. To hesitate in speech.
Idiom: hem and haw To be hesitant and indecisive; equivocate: "a leader who cannot make up his or her mind, never knows what to do, hems and haws" (Margaret Thatcher).
[From Middle English heminge, coughing, of imitative origin.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
hem
(hɛm) n1. (Knitting & Sewing) an edge to a piece of cloth, made by folding the raw edge under and stitching it down
2. (Clothing & Fashion) an edge to a piece of cloth, made by folding the raw edge under and stitching it down
3. (Knitting & Sewing) short for
hemline vb (
tr) ,
hems,
hemming or hemmed4. (Knitting & Sewing) to provide with a hem
5. (usually foll by: in, around, or about) to enclose or confine
[Old English hemm; related to Old Frisian hemme enclosed land]
hem
(hɛm) n,
interja representation of the sound of clearing the throat, used to gain attention, express hesitation, etc
vb,
hems,
hemming or hemmed1. (intr) to utter this sound
2. hem and haw hum and haw to hesitate in speaking or in making a decision
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
hem1
(hɛm)
v. hemmed, hem•ming,
n. v.t. 1. to fold back and sew down the edge of (cloth, a garment, etc.); form an edge or border on or around.
2. to enclose or confine (usu. fol. by in, around, or about): hemmed in by enemies.
n. 3. an edge made by folding back the margin of cloth and sewing it down.
4. the bottom edge or border of a garment, drape, etc.
5. the edge, border, or margin of anything.
[before 1000; Middle English hem(m)]
hem′mer, n.
hem2
(hɛm)
interj., n., v. hemmed, hem•ming. interj. 1. (an utterance resembling a slight clearing of the throat, used esp. to attract attention or express doubt or hesitation.)
n. 2. the utterance or sound of “hem.”
v.i. 3. to utter the sound “hem.”
4. to hesitate in speaking.
Idioms: hem and haw, a. to hesitate or falter while speaking.
b. to avoid giving a direct answer.
[1520–30; imitative]
hem-
var. of
hemo- before a vowel:
hemagglutinate. Also, esp. Brit., haem-. Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.