hem

/hem/

Thân thiện

She carefully sewed a new hem along the bottom of her skirt.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • The edge of a piece of cloth: The border of a garment, curtain, or piece of fabric that is folded under and sewn down to prevent fraying and create a neat finish.
   • A short, throat-clearing sound: The utterance of a sound like "ahem," used to attract attention, express hesitation, or fill a pause in speech.

2. Verb:

   • To fold and sew the edge of cloth: To create a hem by turning the edge of fabric under and stitching it.
   • To utter the sound "hem" or "ahem": To make a short throat-clearing sound.

Usage and Examples

• As a Noun (Cloth Edge):

  • She carefully ironed the hem of her trousers.
  • The hem on this curtain is coming undone.

• As a Noun (Sound):

  • He gave a slight hem before beginning his speech.

• As a Verb (Sewing):

  • I need to hem these jeans; they are too long.
  • She hemmed the tablecloth by hand.

• As a Verb (Utterance):

  • The speaker hemmed nervously while searching for his notes.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "To hem and haw": To hesitate or be evasive in speech; to avoid giving a direct answer.
  • Stop hemming and hawing and give me a straight answer.

Variants and Related Words

• Hemline (n): The level or line formed by the hem of a garment, such as a skirt or dress.
  • The fashion this season features a higher hemline.
• Hemming (n): The action or process of sewing a hem.
  • She finished the hemming on the dress.

Synonyms

• Border (n): The edge or boundary of something, especially a decorative one.
• Edge (n): The outside limit of an object, area, or surface.
• Falter (v): For the speech-related meaning, to speak in a hesitant or unsteady way.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Hem in: To surround or enclose someone or something, restricting movement or freedom.
  • The protesters were hemmed in by police barriers.
  • Tall buildings hemmed in the small park.

Related Idioms

• Hem someone/something in: To trap or confine someone or something.
  • Feeling hemmed in by his responsibilities, he decided to take a vacation.

Học thuật

Noun

1. 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.
2. 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

Verb

1. utter `hem' or `ahem'
2. fold over and sew together to provide with a hem
   • hem my skirt

Từ đồng nghĩa

• ahem