hem Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Hem pronoun
Etymology
OE., fr. AS. him, heom, dative pl. of. h he. See He, They.
Definitions
  1. Them Obs. Chaucer.
Hem interjection
Definitions
  1. An onomatopoetic word used as an expression of hesitation, doubt, etc. It is often a sort of voluntary half cough, loud or subdued, and would perhaps be better expressed by hm.
    Cough or cry hem, if anybody come. Shak.
Hem noun
Definitions
  1. An utterance or sound of the voice, hem or hm, often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention. "His morning hems." Spectator.
Hem intransitive verb
Etymology
. See Hem, interj.
Definitions
  1. To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to hesitate in speaking. "Hem, and stroke thy beard." Shak.
Hem noun
Etymology
AS. hem, border, margin; cf. Fries. hämel, Prov. G. hammel hem of mire or dirt.
Definitions
  1. The edge or border of a garment or cloth, doubled over and sewed, to strengthen raveling.
  2. Border; edge; margin. "Hem of the sea." Shak.
  3. A border made on sheet-metal ware by doubling over the edge of the sheet, to stiffen it and remove the sharp edge.
Hem transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Hemmed ; present participle & verbal noun Hemming
Definitions
  1. To form a hem or border to; to fold and sew down the edge of. Wordsworth.
  2. To border; to edge
    All the skirt about Was hemmed with golden fringe. Spenser.

Webster 1913