The definition of a hem is the folded and sewn border of a piece of clothing or other material.noun
An example of a hem is the cuff of a shirt sleeve that keeps the fabric from unraveling.
Hem is defined as to fold and sew a piece of fabric to create a finished border.verb
An example of hem is making a pair of pants shorter.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.
noun
- the border on a garment or piece of cloth, usually made by folding the edge and sewing it down
- any border, edge, or margin
Origin: ME < OE, akin to MLowG ham, enclosed piece of land < IE base *kem-, to compress, impede > hamper
interjection, noun
(used to suggest) the sound made in clearing the throat
hemo-: used before a vowel
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
noun
- An edge or border on a piece of cloth, especially a finished edge, as for a garment or curtain, made by folding an edge under and stitching it down.
- The height or level of the bottom edge of a skirt, dress, or coat; a hemline.
- To fold back and stitch down the edge of.
- To surround and shut in; enclose: a valley hemmed in by mountains. See Synonyms at enclose.
Origin: Middle English, from Old English hem, hemm.
Related Forms:
- hemˈmer noun
noun
A short cough or clearing of the throat made especially to gain attention, warn another, hide embarrassment, or fill a pause in speech.
intransitive verb hemmed hemmed, hem·ming, hems - To utter a hem.
- To hesitate in speech.
Origin: From Middle English heminge, coughing, of imitative origin.
hem - Medical Definition
prefix
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Variant of hemo-.
hem - Phrases/Idioms
hem and haw
- to make sounds like hems, or grope about in speech, while searching for the right words to say
- to speak in a vague or evasive manner; equivocate
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
hem and haw
To be hesitant and indecisive; equivocate: “a leader who cannot make up his or her mind, never knows what to do, hems and haws” (Margaret Thatcher).