/ fens; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a structure made of wood or wire supported with posts that is put between two areas of land as a boundary , or around a garden / yard, field, etc. to keep animals in, or to keep people and animals out
2.
a structure that horses must jump over in a race or a competition
3.
( informal ) a criminal who buys and sells stolen goods
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IDIOMS
see grass noun , mend verb , side noun , sit
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] to surround or divide an area with a fence :
His property is fenced with barbed wire.
—see also unfenced
2.
[ v ] to take part in the sport of fencing
3.
[ v ] fence (with sb) to speak to sb in a clever way in order to gain an advantage in the conversation
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PHRASAL VERBS
- fence sb/sth in
- fence sth off
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense defending, defence ): shortening of defence . Compare with fend .