hem
hem Lexical Profile
hem Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The finished edge of a piece of clothing or fabric, typically made by folding the material under and sewing it down.
"She decided to shorten the dress by taking up the hem a few inches."
A short sound made by clearing the throat, often used to express hesitation or to attract attention.
"He gave a polite hem before interrupting the ongoing debate."
• verb
To fold back and sew down the edge of (a piece of fabric or a garment).
"The tailor carefully hemmed the trousers so they would fit the customer perfectly."
To completely enclose, confine, or restrict the movement of (typically used with 'in').
"The small mountain village is completely hemmed in by towering peaks and dense forests."
To hesitate in speaking or to express indecision, often by clearing the throat (frequently used in the phrase 'hem and haw').
"The manager continued to hem and haw when pressed for a final decision on the budget."
• Rhymes for hem
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'hem', of West Germanic origin. The sense regarding hesitation or throat-clearing is independently imitative of the natural sound.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.