hedge

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 a row of bushes or small trees planted close together, usually along the edge of a field, garden/yard or road: a privet hedge 2 ~ against sth a way of protecting yourself against the loss of sth, especially money: to buy gold as a hedge against inflation verb 1 [V] to avoid giving a direct answer to a question or promising to support a particular idea, etc: Just answer 'yes' or 'no'-and stop hedging. 2 [VN] to put a hedge around a field, etc. 3 [VN] [usuallypassive] ~ sb/sth (about / around) (with sth) (formal) to surround or limit sb/sth: His religious belief was always hedged with doubt. * Their offer was hedged around with all sorts of conditions. IDIOMS hedge your bets to reduce the risk of losing or making a mistake by supporting more than one side in a competition, an argument, etc., or by having several choices available to you: She hedged her bets by applying for various other jobs as well. PHRASALVERBS hedge against sth to do sth to protect yourself against problems, especially against losing money: a way of hedging against currency risks hedge sb/sth<->in to surround sb/sth with sth SYNHEMSB/STHIN: The cathedral is now hedged in by other buildings. * (figurative) Married life made him feel hedged in and restless.