fence

FENS/fɛns/

15 meanings of fence

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A barrier made of wood, wire, or metal that marks off or encloses a piece of land.
Like a wall, but lighter, made of wood or wire instead of bricks.
They built a wooden fence around the backyard.
A low fence kept the dog from running into the street.
Similarbarrier, railing, palisade
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2
verbtransitive
To surround an area with a barrier in order to enclose or separate it.
Like drawing a line around your yard, but with wood or wire.
We need to fence the pasture before the cattle arrive.
The ranchers fenced their land to mark its limits.
Similarenclose, surround, wall
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3
verbintransitive
To take part in the sport of fighting with thin swords.
Like a sword fight, but as a safe game with rules and protective gear.
He learned to fence at college.
They fence every weekend at the local club.
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4
nouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A person who buys and sells stolen goods for thieves.
Like a shop that secretly buys things people have stolen.
The thief sold the necklace to a fence in the city.
Police arrested a well-known fence who handled stolen jewelry.
Similarfencer
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5
verbtransitive
To buy or sell stolen goods for the people who stole them.
Like passing on something you know was stolen, to make money from it.
He tried to fence the stolen watches at a pawnshop.
They fenced the jewelry within hours of the robbery.
Similarsell, offload
6
nounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
A barrier that keeps people apart, especially an emotional one.
Like an invisible wall that stops people from getting close to you.
She put up a fence around her feelings after the breakup.
Years of silence built a fence between the two brothers.
Similarbarrier, wall
7
verbtransitive
To protect or guard someone or something from harm.
Like standing in front of someone to keep them safe.
Knights were sworn to fence the king from his enemies.
They fenced the village against attack.
Similarshield, guard, protect, defend
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8
nouncountable or uncountable
A part on a machine or tool that guides or stops a piece of wood or metal.
Like a ruler edge you push wood against so your cut stays straight.
Set the fence so the saw cuts a straight line.
He moved the fence to widen the cut.
Similarguide
9
verbintransitive
To jump over a fence, as a horse does.
Like a runner leaping over hurdles, but on horseback.
The horse refused to fence at the water jump.
Young riders learn to fence safely before competing.
Similarjump
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10
nouncountable or uncountable
In cricket, the line or barrier at the edge of the playing field.
Like the line at the edge of a field: reaching it counts for points.
He hit the ball all the way to the fence.
The fielder caught the ball just before the fence.
Similarboundary, rope
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Practice

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Origin

It is a shortened form of "defence", from Old French. The meaning "enclosure" appeared in the mid 1400s.