'Fence' definitions:
Definition of 'fence'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Fence'
From: GCIDE
- Fence \Fence\, v. i.
- 1. To make a defense; to guard one's self of anything, as against an attack; to give protection or security, as by a fence. [1913 Webster]
- Vice is the more stubborn as well as the more dangerous evil, and therefore, in the first place, to be fenced against. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To practice the art of attack and defense with the sword or with the foil, esp. with the smallsword, using the point only. [1913 Webster]
- He will fence with his own shadow. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Hence, to fight or dispute in the manner of fencers, that is, by thrusting, guarding, parrying, etc. [1913 Webster]
- They fence and push, and, pushing, loudly roar; Their dewlaps and their sides are bat?ed in gore. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- As when a billow, blown against, Falls back, the voice with which I fenced A little ceased, but recommenced. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Fence'
From: GCIDE
- Fence \Fence\ (f[e^]ns), n. [Abbrev. from defence.]
- 1. That which fends off attack or danger; a defense; a protection; a cover; security; shield. [1913 Webster]
- Let us be backed with God and with the seas, Which he hath given for fence impregnable. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- A fence betwixt us and the victor's wrath. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
- 2. An inclosure about a field or other space, or about any object; especially, an inclosing structure of wood, iron, or other material, intended to prevent intrusion from without or straying from within. [1913 Webster]
- Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- Note: In England a hedge, ditch, or wall, as well as a structure of boards, palings, or rails, is called a fence. [1913 Webster]
- 3. (Locks) A projection on the bolt, which passes through the tumbler gates in locking and unlocking. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Self-defense by the use of the sword; the art and practice of fencing and sword play; hence, skill in debate and repartee. See Fencing. [1913 Webster]
- Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric, That hath so well been taught her dazzing fence. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- Of dauntless courage and consummate skill in fence. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
- 5. A receiver of stolen goods, or a place where they are received. [Slang] --Mayhew. [1913 Webster]
- Fence month (Forest Law), the month in which female deer are fawning, when hunting is prohibited. --Bullokar.
- Fence roof, a covering for defense. "They fitted their shields close to one another in manner of a fence roof." --Holland.
- Fence time, the breeding time of fish or game, when they should not be killed.
- Rail fence, a fence made of rails, sometimes supported by posts.
- Ring fence, a fence which encircles a large area, or a whole estate, within one inclosure.
- Worm fence, a zigzag fence composed of rails crossing one another at their ends; -- called also snake fence, or Virginia rail fence.
- To be on the fence, to be undecided or uncommitted in respect to two opposing parties or policies. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Fence'
From: GCIDE
- Fence \Fence\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fenced (f[e^]nst); p. pr. & vb. n. Fencing (f[e^]n"s[i^]ng).]
- 1. To fend off danger from; to give security to; to protect; to guard. [1913 Webster]
- To fence my ear against thy sorceries. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To inclose with a fence or other protection; to secure by an inclosure. [1913 Webster]
- O thou wall! . . . dive in the earth, And fence not Athens. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- A sheepcote fenced about with olive trees. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- To fence the tables (Scot. Church), to make a solemn address to those who present themselves to commune at the Lord's supper, on the feelings appropriate to the service, in order to hinder, so far as possible, those who are unworthy from approaching the table. --McCheyne. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Fence'
From: Easton
- Fence (Heb. gader), Num. 22:24 (R.V.). Fences were constructions of unmortared stones, to protect gardens, vineyards, sheepfolds, etc. From various causes they were apt to bulge out and fall (Ps. 62:3). In Ps. 80:12, R.V. (see Isa. 5:5), the psalmist says, "Why hast thou broken down her fences?" Serpents delight to lurk in the crevices of such fences (Eccl. 10:8; comp. Amos 5:19).
Synonyms of 'fence'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abatis,
- about the bush,
- advanced work,
- arch dam,
- arm,
- armor,
- armor-plate,
- around the bush,
- avoid,
- backstop,
- baffle,
- balistraria,
- balustrade,
- bamboo curtain,
- bank,
- banquette,
- bar,
- barbed wire,
- barbed-wire entanglement,
- barbican,
- barrage,
- barricade,
- barrier,
- bartizan,
- bastion,
- battle,
- battlement,
- bear-trap dam,
- beat about,
- beat around,
- beaver dam,
- beg the question,
- bicker,
- black-market,
- black-marketeer,
- bless,
- block,
- blockade,
- boggle,
- boom,
- bootleg,
- bound,
- boundary,
- box,
- brawl,
- breakwater,
- breastwork,
- brick wall,
- broil,
- buffer,
- bulkhead,
- bulkhead in,
- bulwark,
- cage,
- casemate,
- castellate,
- cavil,
- center,
- champion,
- cheval-de-frise,
- choplogic,
- circumscribe,
- circumvallation,
- clash,
- cloak,
- close,
- cofferdam,
- collide,
- combat,
- come to blows,
- compass about,
- compromise,
- confine,
- contend,
- contest,
- contravallation,
- coop,
- copyright,
- corral,
- counterscarp,
- cover,
- crenellate,
- curtain,
- cushion,
- cut and thrust,
- dam,
- defend,
- defense,
- demibastion,
- dig in,
- dike,
- ditch,
- dodge,
- drawbridge,
- duck,
- duel,
- earthwork,
- embankment,
- embattle,
- encircle,
- enclose,
- enclosure,
- ensure,
- entanglement,
- entrench,
- equivocate,
- escarp,
- escarpment,
- evade,
- evade the issue,
- exchange blows,
- feint,
- fences,
- fend,
- fend off,
- feud,
- fieldwork,
- fight,
- fight a duel,
- foil,
- fortalice,
- fortification,
- fortify,
- garrison,
- gate,
- give and take,
- give satisfaction,
- glacis,
- golden mean,
- grapple,
- grapple with,
- gravity dam,
- groin,
- guarantee,
- guard,
- half measures,
- half-and-half measures,
- halfway measures,
- happy medium,
- harbor,
- haven,
- hedge,
- hedgerow,
- hem,
- hem and haw,
- hoarding,
- hydraulic-fill dam,
- immure,
- impartial,
- indecisive,
- independent,
- insure,
- iron curtain,
- irresolute,
- jam,
- jetty,
- jostle,
- joust,
- keep,
- keep from harm,
- leaping weir,
- levee,
- logjam,
- loophole,
- lunette,
- machicolation,
- make safe,
- man,
- man the garrison,
- maneuver,
- mantelet,
- mean,
- medium,
- merlon,
- mew,
- middle course,
- middle ground,
- middle way,
- milldam,
- mine,
- mix it up,
- moat,
- moderantism,
- moderate position,
- moderateness,
- moderation,
- moderatism,
- mole,
- moonshine,
- mound,
- mystify,
- nestle,
- neutral,
- neutral ground,
- nitpick,
- obscure,
- on the fence,
- outwit,
- outwork,
- pale,
- paling,
- palisade,
- palter,
- parados,
- parapet,
- parry,
- patent,
- pen,
- pick nits,
- picket,
- police,
- portcullis,
- postern gate,
- prevaricate,
- protect,
- pull away,
- pull back,
- push,
- pussyfoot,
- put off,
- qualify,
- quarrel,
- quibble,
- rail,
- railing,
- rampart,
- rassle,
- ravelin,
- receiver,
- recoil,
- redan,
- redoubt,
- register,
- restrict,
- retaining wall,
- ride shotgun for,
- riot,
- roadblock,
- rock-fill dam,
- run a tilt,
- safeguard,
- sally port,
- scarp,
- sconce,
- scramble,
- screen,
- scuffle,
- seawall,
- secure,
- separate,
- sheer off,
- shelter,
- shield,
- shift,
- shift off,
- shilly-shally,
- shirk,
- shove,
- shrink,
- shroud,
- shuffle,
- shutter dam,
- shy,
- shy away,
- shy off,
- sidestep,
- skirmish,
- spar,
- split hairs,
- step aside,
- stockade,
- stone wall,
- stonewall,
- stop,
- strive,
- struggle,
- surround,
- swagman,
- swagsman,
- swerve,
- tenaille,
- tergiversate,
- third force,
- thrust and parry,
- tilt,
- tourney,
- trellis,
- tussle,
- unbiased,
- uncertain,
- uncommitted,
- undecided,
- underwrite,
- unprejudiced,
- vacillate,
- vacillating,
- vallation,
- vallum,
- via media,
- waffle,
- wage war,
- wall,
- war,
- ward off,
- weir,
- wicket dam,
- work,
- wrestle,
- zigzag fence
Words containing 'Fence'
- Fenced,
- Fenceful,
- Fencing,
- To be on the fence,
- fence in,
- on the fence,
- Fence month,
- Fence roof,
- Fence time,
- Flood fence,
- Picket fence,
- Rail fence,
- Ring fence,
- Snake fence,
- Sunk fence,
- To fence the tables,
- Virginia fence,
- Wire fence,
- Worm fence,
- chainlink fence,
- fence line,
- fence lizard,
- fence mending,
- fence rail,
- fenced cities,
- fencing mask,
- fencing material,
- fencing stick,
- fencing sword,
- Flower-fence,
- Virginia rail fence,
- confined fenced in penned,
- eastern fence lizard,
- fence-sitter,
- peacock flower fence,
- western fence lizard,
- snake-rail fence