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Definitions for Fence

[1] a barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc., usually made of posts and wire or wood, used to prevent entrance, to confine, or to mark a boundary.
[2] Informal . a person who receives and disposes of stolen goods.
[3] the place of business of such a person.
[4] the act, practice, art, or sport of fencing.
[5] skill in argument, repartee, etc.
[6] Machinery . a guard or guide, as for regulating the movements of a tool or work.
[7] Carpentry . a slotted guide used especially with a framing square to lay out cuts on rafters and staircase strings.
[8] Archaic . a means of defense; a bulwark.
[9] to enclose by some barrier, establishing exclusive right to possession: to fence a farm.
[10] to separate by or as by a fence or fences (often followed by in, off, out, etc.): to fence off a corner of one's yard; to fence out unwholesome influences.
[11] to defend; protect; guard: The president was fenced by bodyguards wherever he went.
[12] to ward off; keep out.
[13] Informal . to sell (stolen goods) to a fence.
[14] Nautical . to reinforce (an opening in a sail or the like) by sewing on a grommet or other device.
[15] to practice the art or sport of fencing.
[16] to parry arguments; strive to avoid giving direct answers; hedge: The mayor fenced when asked if he would run again.
[17] (of a horse) to leap over a fence.
[18] Obsolete . to raise a defense.
[19] mend one's fences , to strengthen or reestablish one's position by conciliation or negotiation: One could tell by his superficially deferential manner that he was trying to mend his fences.
[20] on the fence , uncommitted; neutral; undecided: The party leaders are still on the fence.
[21] a structure that serves to enclose an area such as a garden or field, usually made of posts of timber, concrete, or metal connected by wire, netting, rails, or boards
[22] slang a dealer in stolen property
[23] an obstacle for a horse to jump in steeplechasing or showjumping
[24] machinery a guard or guide, esp in a circular saw or plane
[25] a projection usually fitted to the top surface of a sweptback aircraft wing to prevent movement of the airflow towards the wing tips
[26] mend one's fences mainly US and Canadian to restore a position or reputation that has been damaged, esp in politics to re-establish friendly relations (with someone)
[27] on the fence unable or unwilling to commit oneself
[28] over the fence Australian and NZ informal unreasonable, unfair, or unjust
[29] sit on the fence to be unable or unwilling to commit oneself
[30] (tr) to construct a fence on or around (a piece of land, etc)
[31] (tr; foll by in or off) to close (in) or separate (off) with or as if with a fence he fenced in the livestock
[32] (intr) to fight using swords or foils
[33] (intr) to evade a question or argument, esp by quibbling over minor points
[34] (intr) to engage in skilful or witty debate, repartee, etc
[35] (intr) slang to receive stolen property
[36] (tr) archaic to ward off or keep out

Words related to Fence

bar, wall, rail, dike, roadblock, barricade, railing, net, block, encircle, shield, stop, palisade, cyclone, guard, defense, stockade, rampart, hedge, balustrade

Words nearby Fence

femtometer, femur, fen, fen-phen, fenagle, fence, fence in, fence lizard, fence with, fence-mending, fence-off

Origin of Fence

1300–50; Middle English fens, aphetic for defens defense

Other words from Fence

fence·like , adjective
out·fence , verb (used with object), out·fenced, out·fenc·ing.
re·fence , verb (used with object), re·fenced, re·fenc·ing.
un·fence , verb (used with object), un·fenced, un·fenc·ing.
well-fenced , adjective

Word origin for Fence

C14 fens , shortened from defens defence

Synonyms for Fence

bar, barbed wire, barricade, block, dike, net, rail, railing, roadblock, wall, backstop, balustrade, boards, chains, cyclone, defense, guard, hedge, paling, palisade, pickets, posts, rampart, shield, stakes, stockade, stop