[fens] 
noun, verb, fenced, fenc⋅ing.| 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 esp. 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 fol. 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. |
fence
