hem
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.
See hem in Webster's New World College Dictionary
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
See hem in American Heritage Dictionary 4
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:
Origin: Middle English
Origin: , from Old English hem, hemm
.Related Forms:
- hemˈmer noun
noun
- To utter a hem.
- To hesitate in speech.
Origin:
Origin: From Middle English heminge, coughing
Origin: , of imitative origin
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