fence

[fens]

noun

1. 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.

2. Informal.,  a person who receives and disposes of stolen goods.

3. the place of business of such a person.

4. the act, practice, art, or sport of fencing.

5. skill in argument, repartee, etc.

6. Machinery.,  a guard or guide, as for regulating the movements of a tool or work.

7. Carpentry.,  a slotted guide used especially with a framing square to lay out cuts on rafters and staircase strings.

8. Archaic.,  a means of defense; a bulwark.

verb (used with object)

fenced, fencing 

1. to enclose by some barrier, establishing exclusive right to possession.

   to fence a farm.

2. 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.

3. to defend; protect; guard.

   The president was fenced by bodyguards wherever he went.

4. to ward off; keep out.

5. Informal.,  to sell (stolen goods) to a fence.

6. Nautical.,  to reinforce (an opening in a sail or the like) by sewing on a grommet or other device.

verb (used without object)

fenced, fencing 

1. to practice the art or sport of fencing.

2. to parry arguments; strive to avoid giving direct answers; hedge.

   The mayor fenced when asked if he would run again.

3. (of a horse) to leap over a fence.

4. Obsolete.,  to raise a defense.

fence

/ fɛns /

noun

1. 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

2. slang,  a dealer in stolen property

3. an obstacle for a horse to jump in steeplechasing or showjumping

4. machinery a guard or guide, esp in a circular saw or plane

5. a projection usually fitted to the top surface of a sweptback aircraft wing to prevent movement of the airflow towards the wing tips

6. 1. to restore a position or reputation that has been damaged, esp in politics

   2. to re-establish friendly relations (with someone)

7. unable or unwilling to commit oneself

8. informal,  unreasonable, unfair, or unjust

9. to be unable or unwilling to commit oneself

verb

1. (tr) to construct a fence on or around (a piece of land, etc)

2. (tr; foll by in or off) to close (in) or separate (off) with or as if with a fence

   he fenced in the livestock

3. (intr) to fight using swords or foils

4. (intr) to evade a question or argument, esp by quibbling over minor points

5. (intr) to engage in skilful or witty debate, repartee, etc

6. slang,  (intr) to receive stolen property

7. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fence¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fens, shortening of defens “(means of) fortification, resistance, defense”; defense

Word History and Origins

Origin of fence¹

C14 fens , shortened from defens _defence

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

2. on the fence, uncommitted; neutral; undecided.

   The party leaders are still on the fence.

More idioms and phrases containing fence

• mend one's fences
• on the fence
• straddle the fence

Example Sentences

The orchard’s 16 heirloom varieties, older cultivars passed down by generations of farmers, are fenced to keep out the crowd.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Oz Daniel, 19, was a sergeant in the IDF's 7th Armoured Brigade and was killed during a battle with Hamas gunmen near the Gaza perimeter fence on 7 October.

Read more on BBC

Two other women showed up around the same time, with wigs, and yelled curses at the ICE officials and National Guard troops on the other side of the new chain-link fence surrounding the facility.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They scaled fences and crept through yards, using the palm trees on Franco’s property as a guide.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Opinions on the stock are divided, with nearly just as many bulls as those on the fence.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• bar 
• barbed wire 
• barricade 
• block 
• dike 
• net 
• rail 
• railing 
• roadblock 
• wall