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hem

1 hem /ˈhɛm/ noun
plural hems
1 hem
/ˈhɛm/
noun
plural hems
Britannica Dictionary definition of HEM
[count]
: the edge of a piece of cloth that is folded back and sewn down see color picture on this page
2 hem /ˈhɛm/ verb
hems; hemmed; hemming
2 hem
/ˈhɛm/
verb
hems; hemmed; hemming
Britannica Dictionary definition of HEM
[+ object]
: to sew down a folded edge of cloth on (something) : to give (something) a hem

hem in

[phrasal verb]
hem (someone or something) in or hem in (someone or something)
: to surround (someone or something) very closely or in a way that makes movement or escape difficult usually used as (be) hemmed in
often used figuratively
compare 3hem
3 hem /ˈhɛm/ verb
hems; hemmed; hemming
3 hem
/ˈhɛm/
verb
hems; hemmed; hemming
Britannica Dictionary definition of HEM

hem and haw

chiefly US, informal
: to stop often and change what you are saying during speech because you are not sure of what to say or are trying to avoid saying something
: to take a long time before you make a decision about what to do
compare 2hem