hem

Meanings

Plural: hems

Noun

• the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down
  • "the hem of her dress was stained"
  • "let down the hem"
  • "he stitched weights into the curtain's hem"
  • "it seeped along the hem of his jacket"
• the utterance of a sound similar to clearing the throat; intended to get attention, express hesitancy, fill a pause, hide embarrassment, warn a friend, etc.
• An utterance or sound of the voice like "hem", often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention.
• The border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together to finish the edge and prevent it from fraying.
• A rim or margin of something.
• In sheet metal design, a rim or edge folded back on itself to create a smooth edge and to increase strength or rigidity.

Verb

• fold over and sew together to provide with a hem
  • "hem my skirt"
• utter `hem' or `ahem'
• To make the sound expressed by the word hem; to hesitate in speaking.
• To make a hem.
• To put hem on an article of clothing, to edge or put a border on something.
• To shut in, enclose, confine; to surround something or someone in a confining way.

Intj

• Used to fill in the gap of a pause with a vocalized sound.

Pron

• Obsolete form of 'em.

Synonyms

ahem

Related Words

ahem, haw

Anagrams of hem