(~s, hedging, ~d)
1.
A ~ is a row of bushes or small trees, usually along the edge of a garden, field, or road.
N-COUNT
2.
If you ~ against something unpleasant or unwanted that might affect you, especially losing money, you do something which will protect you from it.
You can ~ against redundancy or illness with insurance...
Today’s clever financial instruments make it possible for firms to ~ their risks.
VERB: V against n, V n
3.
Something that is a ~ against something unpleasant will protect you from its effects.
Gold is traditionally a ~ against inflation.
N-COUNT: N against n
4.
If you ~, you avoid answering a question or committing yourself to a particular action or decision.
They ~d in answering various questions about the operation...
‘I can’t give you an answer now,’ he ~d.
VERB: V, V with quote
5.
If you ~ your bets, you reduce the risk of losing a lot by supporting more than one person or thing in a situation where they are opposed to each other.
Hawker Siddeley tried to ~ its bets by diversifying into other fields...
PHRASE: V inflects