hemmed, hemming

hemmed, hemming
verb
1 (T) to turn under the edge of a piece of material or clothing and stitch it in place
2 hem and haw AmE to keep pausing before saying something, and avoid saying it directly
hem sb in phrasal verb (transitive usually passive)
1 to surround someone closely, in a way that prevents them from moving: They were hemmed in by steep mountains on all sides.
2 to make someone feel that they are not free to do what they want to do: She felt hemmed-in by the daily routine.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Hemming — Hem Hem, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hemmed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Hemming}.] 1. To form a hem or border to; to fold and sew down the edge of. Wordsworth. [1913 Webster] 2. To border; to edge [1913 Webster] All the skirt about Was hemmed with golden fringe …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hemmed — Hem Hem, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hemmed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Hemming}.] 1. To form a hem or border to; to fold and sew down the edge of. Wordsworth. [1913 Webster] 2. To border; to edge [1913 Webster] All the skirt about Was hemmed with golden fringe …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Automotive Hemming — Hemming (Automotive)Hemming is a technology used by the automotive industry to join inner and outer closure panels together (hoods, doors, tailgates, etc.). It is the process of bending/folding the flange of the outer panel over the inner one.… …   Wikipedia

  • hem — I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle High German hemmen to hem in, Armenian kamel to press Date: before 12th century 1. a border of a cloth article doubled back and stitched down 2. rim, margin < bright green hem of …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hem — hem1 /hem/, v., hemmed, hemming, 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 (usually fol. by in, around, or about): hemmed in by enemies. n. 3. an edge… …   Universalium

  • hem — I. /hɛm / (say hem) verb (t) (hemmed, hemming) 1. to fold back and sew down the edge of (cloth, a garment, etc.). 2. to form an edge or border to or about. –noun 3. the edge made by folding back the margin of cloth and sewing it down. 4. the edge …  

  • hem — hem1 [hem] n. [ME < OE, akin to MLowG ham, enclosed piece of land < IE base * kem , to compress, impede > HAMPER1] 1. the border on a garment or piece of cloth, usually made by folding the edge and sewing it down 2. any border, edge, or… …   English World dictionary

  • hem — 1. n. & v. n. the border of a piece of cloth, esp. a cut edge turned under and sewn down. v.tr. (hemmed, hemming) turn down and sew in the edge of (a piece of cloth etc.). Phrases and idioms: hem in confine; restrict the movement of. Etymology:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • hem — 1. interjection Used to fill in the gap of a pause with a vocalized sound. 2. noun a) The border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together to finish the edge and prevent it from fraying. b) A rim or margin of something. 3. verb …   Wiktionary

  • hem — {{11}}hem (interj.) late 15c., probably imitative of the sound of clearing the throat. Hem and haw first recorded 1786, from haw hesitation (1630s; see HAW (Cf. haw) (v.)); hem and hawk attested from 1570s. {{12}}hem (n.) O.E. hem a border,… …   Etymology dictionary

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