fence
Americannoun
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a barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc., usually made of vertical posts connected with horizontal sections of sturdy material or materials, as wood, metal, vinyl, or wire, used to prevent entrance, to confine, or to mark a boundary.
Our garden fence is not high enough to keep the deer out.
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Informal. a person who receives and disposes of stolen goods.
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the place of business of such a person.
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the act, practice, art, or sport of fencing.
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skill in argument, repartee, etc.
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Machinery. a guard or guide, as for regulating the movements of a tool or work.
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Carpentry. a slotted guide used especially with a framing square to lay out cuts on rafters and staircase strings.
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Archaic. a means of defense; a bulwark.
verb (used with object)
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to enclose by some barrier, establishing exclusive right to possession.
to fence a farm.
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to separate by or as by a fence or fences (often followed by in, off, out, etc.).
to fence off a corner of one's yard; to fence out unwholesome influences.
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to defend; protect; guard.
The president was fenced by bodyguards wherever he went.
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to ward off; keep out.
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Informal. to sell (stolen goods) to a fence.
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Nautical. to reinforce (an opening in a sail or the like) by sewing on a grommet or other device.
verb (used without object)
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to practice the art or sport of fencing.
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to parry arguments; strive to avoid giving direct answers; hedge.
The mayor fenced when asked if he would run again.
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(of a horse) to leap over a fence.
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Obsolete. to raise a defense.
idioms
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mend one's fences, to strengthen or reestablish one's position by conciliation or negotiation.
One could tell by his superficially deferential manner that he was trying to mend his fences.
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on the fence, uncommitted; neutral; undecided.
The party leaders are still on the fence.
noun
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a structure that serves to enclose an area such as a garden or field, usually made of posts of timber, concrete, or metal connected by wire, netting, rails, or boards
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slang a dealer in stolen property
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an obstacle for a horse to jump in steeplechasing or showjumping
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machinery a guard or guide, esp in a circular saw or plane
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a projection usually fitted to the top surface of a sweptback aircraft wing to prevent movement of the airflow towards the wing tips
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to restore a position or reputation that has been damaged, esp in politics
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to re-establish friendly relations (with someone)
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unable or unwilling to commit oneself
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informal unreasonable, unfair, or unjust
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to be unable or unwilling to commit oneself
verb
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(tr) to construct a fence on or around (a piece of land, etc)
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(tr; foll by in or off) to close (in) or separate (off) with or as if with a fence
he fenced in the livestock
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(intr) to fight using swords or foils
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(intr) to evade a question or argument, esp by quibbling over minor points
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(intr) to engage in skilful or witty debate, repartee, etc
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slang (intr) to receive stolen property
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archaic (tr) to ward off or keep out
Other Word Forms
- fenceless adjective
- fencelike adjective
- outfence verb (used with object)
- refence verb (used with object)
- unfence verb (used with object)
- well-fenced adjective
Etymology
Origin of fence
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fens, shortening of defens “(means of) fortification, resistance, defense”; defense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A crew of about 25 employees spent three days chainsawing toppled trees and reconstructing fences.
"I got to run across Sydney Harbour Bridge with the Opera House in view and I even saved a goat from being stuck in a fence."
From BBC
Lobbing a Christmas tree into a park or over a fence might feel tempting once the festivities are over, but it counts as fly-tipping which is illegal and can result in fines, says Nurse.
From BBC
Stocks traded mixed Wednesday following delayed U.S. jobs data that left Wall Street on the fence as to whether the Federal Reserve will continue to cut interest rates in 2026.
From Barron's
He’s positively delightful here, whether being overprotective of Deschanel or suffering her ministrations, dancing around Curtis, or fencing with Jake Johnson’s Nick.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
