- the edge of a piece of cloth or clothing which has been turned under and sewn（布或衣服已缝好的）褶边。
(hemmed, hemming)with obj.
1
- turn under and sew the edge of (a piece of cloth)缝（布的）褶边。
2
hem someone/thing in
（一般作be hemmed in）surround and restrict the space or movement of包围, 限制（范围、活动）：he was hemmed in by the tables.
他被桌子围住了。
词源
Old English 'the border of a piece of cloth', of West Germanic origin. The verb senses date from the mid 16th cent.
- used in writing to indicate a sound made when coughing or clearing the throat to attract someone's attention or express hesitation哼（写作中用于表示吸引别人注意或表示犹豫的轻咳或清嗓子声）。
- an utterance of such a sound“哼”声。
(hemmed, hemming)no obj.
- archaic make such a sound when hesitating or as a signal〈古〉（迟疑时或作为信号）发“哼”声。
短语
hem and haw
- another way of saying HUM AND HAW (see HUM1).同 HUM AND HAW （见HUM1）.
词源
late 15th cent.: imitative.