noun, verb
noun the edge of a piece of fabric that has been folded over and sewn, especially on a piece of clothing:
to take up the hem of a dress (= to make the dress shorter)
verb (-mm-) [VN] to make a hem on sth:
to hem a skirt
IDIOMS
hem and haw (AmE) = HUMANDHAW
PHRASALVERBS
hem sb/sth<->in to surround sb/sth so that they cannot move or grow easily
SYNHEDGESB/STHIN:
The village is hemmed in on all sides by mountains. * (figurative) She felt hemmed in by all their petty rules and regulations.
