/ hem; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
the edge of a piece of cloth that has been folded over and sewn, especially on a piece of clothing :
to take up the hem of a dress (= to make the dress shorter)
■ verb
( -mm- ) [ vn ] to make a hem on sth :
to hem a skirt
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IDIOMS
- hem and haw
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PHRASAL VERBS
- hem sb/sth in
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English border of a piece of cloth , of West Germanic origin. The verb senses date from the mid 16th cent.