fence
fence Lexical Profile
fence Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A barrier, railing, or other upright structure, typically made of wood or wire, enclosing an area of ground to mark a boundary, control access, or prevent escape.
"The farmer built a tall wooden fence to keep the sheep from wandering onto the highway."
A person who knowingly buys stolen goods in order to later resell them for a profit.
"The burglars took the stolen jewelry to a local fence who paid them a fraction of its true value."
A guard or guide on a machine, such as a table saw, used to keep the material being worked on perfectly straight.
"He adjusted the rip fence on the table saw before cutting the plywood."
• verb
To enclose, separate, or surround an area with a barrier or structure.
"They decided to fence the backyard so their new puppy could run around safely without escaping."
To engage in the sport of fighting with swords, typically using a foil, épée, or saber.
"She learned to fence at a young age and eventually competed in the national collegiate championships."
To sell stolen property to a buyer of illicit goods.
"The thieves struggled to fence the stolen paintings because the artwork was too famous and recognizable."
• Rhymes for fence
Word Origin & Etymology
Middle English (as a noun denoting a defense): aphetic (shortened) form of the word 'defense' (or 'defence'), from Old French 'defens', ultimately from Latin 'defensum' meaning 'thing defended'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.