fence
a barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc., usually made of vertical posts connected with horizontal sections of sturdy material or materials, as wood, metal, vinyl, or wire, used to prevent entrance, to confine, or to mark a boundary: Our garden fence is not high enough to keep the deer out.
Informal. a person who receives and disposes of stolen goods.
the place of business of such a person.
the act, practice, art, or sport of fencing.
skill in argument, repartee, etc.
Machinery. a guard or guide, as for regulating the movements of a tool or work.
Carpentry. a slotted guide used especially with a framing square to lay out cuts on rafters and staircase strings.
Archaic. a means of defense; a bulwark.
to enclose by some barrier, establishing exclusive right to possession: to fence a farm.
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.
to defend; protect; guard: The president was fenced by bodyguards wherever he went.
to ward off; keep out.
Informal. to sell (stolen goods) to a fence.
Nautical. to reinforce (an opening in a sail or the like) by sewing on a grommet or other device.
to practice the art or sport of fencing.
to parry arguments; strive to avoid giving direct answers; hedge: The mayor fenced when asked if he would run again.
(of a horse) to leap over a fence.
Obsolete. to raise a defense.
Idioms about fence
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.
on the fence, uncommitted; neutral; undecided: The party leaders are still on the fence.
Origin of fence
1Other 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use fence in a sentence
"Not defenceless—but 'on-the-fence' Americans," corrected Jack, tittering.
The Little Washingtons' Travels | Lillian Elizabeth RoyPerhaps you think I ain't been busy rounding up a lot of on-the-fence-men?
Makers of Madness | Hermann Hagedorn
British Dictionary definitions for fence
/ (fɛns) /
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
slang a dealer in stolen property
an obstacle for a horse to jump in steeplechasing or showjumping
machinery a guard or guide, esp in a circular saw or plane
a projection usually fitted to the top surface of a sweptback aircraft wing to prevent movement of the airflow towards the wing tips
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)
on the fence unable or unwilling to commit oneself
over the fence Australian and NZ informal unreasonable, unfair, or unjust
sit on the fence to be unable or unwilling to commit oneself
(tr) to construct a fence on or around (a piece of land, etc)
(tr; foll by in or off) to close (in) or separate (off) with or as if with a fence: he fenced in the livestock
(intr) to fight using swords or foils
(intr) to evade a question or argument, esp by quibbling over minor points
(intr) to engage in skilful or witty debate, repartee, etc
(intr) slang to receive stolen property
(tr) archaic to ward off or keep out
Origin of fence
1Derived forms of fence
- fenceless, adjective
- fencelike, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with fence
In addition to the idioms beginning with fence
- fence in
- fence with
also see:
- mend one's fences
- on the fence
- straddle the fence
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse