I. hedge 1 /hedʒ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: hecg ]
1 . a row of small bushes or trees growing close together, usually dividing one field or garden from another
2 . something that protects you against possible problems, especially financial loss
hedge against
Buying a house will be a hedge against inflation.
⇨ look as if you’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards at ↑ drag 1 (13)
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THESAURUS
■ areas and structures in a garden
▪ lawn [countable] an area of short grass in a garden:
They were sitting on the front lawn of the house.
▪ flowerbed [countable] an area of ground where you grow flowers:
The flowerbeds were well maintained.
▪ rockery [countable] British English an area of a garden where there are rocks with small flowers growing between them
▪ hedge [countable] a row of small bushes or trees growing close together, used for dividing one garden from another:
a beech hedge
▪ vegetable patch/plot [countable] ( also kitchen garden British English ) a part of a garden where you grow vegetables
▪ patio [countable] a flat stone area next to a house, where people sit outside
▪ decking [uncountable] a flat wooden area in a garden, where people can sit
▪ pond [countable] a small area of water in a garden
▪ water feature [countable] a small pool or structure with water running through it, used to make a garden look more attractive
▪ greenhouse [countable] a glass building where you can grow plants that need protection from the weather
▪ shed [countable] a small wooden building in a garden, where you can store things
II. hedge 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle hedged , present participle hedging ) [intransitive and transitive]
1 . to avoid giving a direct answer to a question:
You’re hedging again – have you got the money or haven’t you?
‘That depends on my partner,’ she hedged.
2 . hedge your bets to reduce your chances of failure or loss by trying several different possibilities instead of one:
It’s a good idea to hedge your bets by applying to more than one college.
hedge against something phrasal verb
to try to protect yourself against possible problems, especially financial loss:
Smart managers will hedge against price increases.
hedge in phrasal verb be hedged in
1 . to be surrounded or enclosed by something:
The building was hedged in by trees.
2 . if you feel hedged in by something, you feel that your freedom is restricted by it