fence

[ fens ]

noun

1. 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.

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.

verb (used with object)

, fenced, fenc·ing.

1. to enclose by some barrier, establishing exclusive right to possession:

   to fence a farm.

2. 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.

3. to defend; protect; guard:

   The president was fenced by bodyguards wherever he went.

4. to ward off; keep out.
5. Informal. to sell (stolen goods) to a fence.
6. Nautical. to reinforce (an opening in a sail or the like) by sewing on a grommet or other device.

verb (used without object)

, fenced, fenc·ing.

1. to practice the art or sport of fencing.
2. to parry arguments; strive to avoid giving direct answers; hedge:

   The mayor fenced when asked if he would run again.

3. (of a horse) to leap over a fence.
4. Obsolete. to raise a defense.

fence

/ fɛns /

noun

1. 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
2. slang.
   a dealer in stolen property
3. an obstacle for a horse to jump in steeplechasing or showjumping
4. machinery a guard or guide, esp in a circular saw or plane
5. a projection usually fitted to the top surface of a sweptback aircraft wing to prevent movement of the airflow towards the wing tips
6. mend one's fences
   1. to restore a position or reputation that has been damaged, esp in politics
   2. to re-establish friendly relations (with someone)
7. on the fence
   unable or unwilling to commit oneself
8. over the fence informal.
   unreasonable, unfair, or unjust
9. sit on the fence
   to be unable or unwilling to commit oneself

verb

1. tr to construct a fence on or around (a piece of land, etc)
2. tr; foll by in or off to close (in) or separate (off) with or as if with a fence

   he fenced in the livestock

3. intr to fight using swords or foils
4. intr to evade a question or argument, esp by quibbling over minor points
5. intr to engage in skilful or witty debate, repartee, etc
6. slang.
   intr to receive stolen property
7. archaic.
   tr to ward off or keep out

Derived Forms

• ˈfenceless, adjective
• ˈfenceˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• fence·like adjective
• out·fence verb (used with object) outfenced outfencing
• re·fence verb (used with object) refenced refencing
• un·fence verb (used with object) unfenced unfencing
• well-fenced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fence¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fens, shortening of defens “(means of) fortification, resistance, defense”; defense

Word History and Origins

Origin of fence¹

C14 fens , shortened from defens defence

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

2. on the fence, uncommitted; neutral; undecided:

   The party leaders are still on the fence.

More idioms and phrases containing fence

• mend one's fences
• on the fence
• straddle the fence

Example Sentences

Beneath the watchtower at UNDOF’s Camp Ziouani base, the Israeli fence snakes towards a line of volcanic mountains; a Syrian flag flutters in the trees beyond the post, marking the other side of the separation zone.

From BBC

Those who hopped the fence returned with photos of what looked like a burned encampment: dozens of pull-tab cans, a grill, and the singed remains of fans, a microwave, and a rug.

From Slate

Only security guards appeared to be moving around behind the fence when the BBC arrived, and they had been ordered to keep an eye out for reporters.

From BBC

Having played on both sides of what has been a divisive fence, he said "everyone understands the need for some level of cooperation for golf to prosper for fans" with "three of four tours splitting up the top players in the world".

From BBC

I was on the fence about Rick Springfield.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• encircle