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   fence

   /fens/

   noun

   • 1. a barrier, railing, or other upright structure, typically of wood or wire, enclosing an area of ground to mark a boundary, control access, or prevent escape. Similar barrierpalingrailingrailbarhurdleenclosurewallhedgehedgerowwindbreakgroinpartitionbarricadestockadepalisaderampartprotectiondefenserare:circumvallation
   • ▪ a large upright obstacle used in equestrian jumping events.
   • 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 arounddivide upsection offseparate offpartition offcut offcordon offclose offisolatesegregatesealcloseliterary:girdgirdleengirdrare:compass
   • ▪ enclose or separate with a fence for protection or to prevent escape: "everything is fenced in to keep out the wolves" 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: "Idaho law requires people to fence out cows"
   • 2. deal in (stolen goods): informal "after stealing your ring, he didn't even know how to fence it" Similar receive stolen goodsdeal in stolen goods
   • 3. fight with swords, especially as a sport.
   • ▪ conduct a discussion or argument in such a way as to avoid the direct mention of something: "we were fencing, not talking about the subject we'd come to talk about" Similar be evasivebe vaguebe ambiguousbe noncommittalequivocateprevaricatestallvacillatequibblehedgebeat around 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, defense’): shortening of defense. 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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