HEM IN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hem in mean? 

• HEM IN (verb)
  The verb HEM IN has 2 senses:

1. surround in a restrictive manner

2. surround so as to force to give up

  Familiarity information: HEM IN used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HEM IN (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Surround in a restrictive manner

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The building was hemmed in by flowers

Hypernyms (to "hem in" is one way to...):

border; environ; ring; skirt; surround (extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "hem in"):

hedge (hinder or restrict with or as if with a hedge)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Surround so as to force to give up

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

beleaguer; besiege; circumvent; hem in; surround

Context example:

The Turks besieged Vienna

Hypernyms (to "hem in" is one way to...):

assail; attack (launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "hem in"):

blockade; seal off (impose a blockade on)

ebb (hem in fish with stakes and nets so as to prevent them from going back into the sea with the ebb)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something