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   fence

   /fɛns/

   noun

   • 1. a barrier, railing, or other upright structure, typically of wood or wire, enclosing an area of ground to prevent or control access or escape. Similar barrierpalingrailingrailbarhurdleenclosurewallhedgehedgerowwindbreakgroynepartitionbarricadestockadepalisaderampartprotectiondefencerare:circumvallation
   • ▪ a large upright obstacle in steeplechasing, showjumping, or cross-country.
   • 2. a guard or guide on a plane, saw, or other tool.
   • 3. a person who deals in stolen goods. informal Similar receiver of stolen goodsdealer in stolen goodsreceiverdealertraffickerinformal:pusher

   verb

   • 1. surround or protect with a fence: "our garden was not fully fenced" Similar enclosesurroundcircumscribeencirclecircleencompassboundform a barrier aroundform a ring rounddivide upsection offseparate offpartition offcut offcordon offclose offisolatesegregatesealcloseliterary:girdgirdleengirdrare:compass
   • ▪ enclose or separate an area with a fence: "a small plantation of young trees had been fenced off" Similar confinepen incoop uprail inbox inwall inhedge inhem inclose inshut inshut upmew upimmurelock inshut offseparate offcut offinternimpoundhold captivekeep under lock and keyenclosesurroundkettlesecureprotectdefendcorral
   • ▪ use a barrier to exclude someone or something: "walkers may find themselves fenced out of the moor"
   • 2. buy or sell (stolen goods): informal "after stealing your ring, he didn't even know how to fence it" Similar receive stolen goodsdeal in stolen goods
   • 3. engage in the sport of fencing.
   • ▪ conduct a discussion or argument in an evasive way: "twelve months of fencing with McLaren had taken a toll on his nerves" Similar be evasivebe vaguebe ambiguousbe non-committalequivocateprevaricatestallvacillatequibblehedgebeat about the bushdodge the issuesidestep the issueparry questionsfudge the issuemince one's wordsinformal:pussyfoot aroundduck the questionduck the issuewaffleshilly-shallyflannelrare:paltertergiversate

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘defending, defence’): shortening of defence. Compare with fencible and fend.

   Derivatives

   • 1. fenceless adjective
   • 2. fencer noun

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • F

     4

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • C

     3

   • E

     1

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