/ hedʒ; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a row of bushes or small trees planted close together, usually along the edge of a field, garden / yard or road :
a privet hedge
2.
hedge against sth a way of protecting yourself against the loss of sth, especially money :
to buy gold as a hedge against inflation
■ verb
1.
[ v ] to avoid giving a direct answer to a question or promising to support a particular idea, etc. :
Just answer 'yes' or 'no'—and stop hedging.
2.
[ vn ] to put a hedge around a field, etc.
3.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] hedge sb/sth (about / around) (with sth) ( formal ) to surround or limit sb/sth :
His religious belief was always hedged with doubt.
Their offer was hedged around with all sorts of conditions.
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IDIOMS
- hedge your bets
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PHRASAL VERBS
- hedge against sth
- hedge sb/sth in
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English hegg , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch heg and German Hecke .