fence

I. fence¹ S3 /fens/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: defense]
1. a structure made of wood, metal etc that surrounds a piece of land
2. a wall or other structure that horses jump over in a race or competition
3. informal someone who buys and sells stolen goods
4. sit/be on the fence to avoid saying which side of an argument you support
⇨ mend (your) fences at ↑mend¹(4)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ wall an upright flat structure made of stone or brick, that divides one area from another or surrounds an area: The estate is surrounded by high stone walls. | a brick wall
▪ fence a structure made of wood, metal etc that surrounds a piece of land: The garden was surrounded by an old wooden fence. | the chain link fence around the school
▪ railings a metal fence that is made of a series of upright bars: the iron railings in front of the house | The boy was leaning over the railing on the side of the boat.
▪ barrier a type of fence or gate that prevents people from moving in a particular direction: A guard stood near the barrier. | The police had put up barriers to keep the crowd under control.
▪ screen a piece of furniture like a thin wall that can be moved around and is used to divide one part of a room from another: the screen around his hospital bed | a Japanese bamboo screen | a fire screen (=that you put near a fire)
▪ partition a thin wall that separates one part of a room from another: The room was divided into two by a thin partition. | The offices are separated by partitions and you can hear everything that is said in the next office.
▪ barricade a line of objects that people have put across a road, to prevent people getting past, especially as part of a protest: The soldiers used tanks to smash through the barricades.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fence

fence [fence fences fenced fencing] noun, verb [fens] [fens]

noun
1. a structure made of wood or wire supported with posts that is put between two areas of land as a boundary, or around a garden/yard, field, etc. to keep animals in, or to keep people and animals out

2. a structure that horses must jump over in a race or a competition

3. (informal) a criminal who buys and sells stolen goods
see the grass is (always) greener on the other side (of the fence) at grass _n., mend (your) fences (with sb) at mend _v., on the other side of the fence at side _n., sit on the fence at sit
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘defending, defence’): shortening of defence. Compare with fend.
Thesaurus:
fence noun C
• Guards with dogs patrolled the perimeter fence.
railing • • wall •
a high/low fence/wall
(a) metal/wooden fence/railings
put up/build a fence/wall
Example Bank:
• She walked over to the tall wooden privacy fence.
• The White House already is struggling to mend fences with Europe.
• The house was surrounded by a white picket fence.
• There was a cottage garden at the front and a white picket fence.
• a fence around the site
• a proposal approved by people on both sides of the political fence
• the airport perimeter fence
• the fence line separating the United States from Mexico
• Security guards with dogs patrolled the perimeter fence.

Derived: fence somebody in ▪ fence something off

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

fence / fens / noun [ C ] (STRUCTURE)

fence

B2 a structure that divides two areas of land, similar to a wall but made of wood or wire and supported with posts

fence / fens / noun [ C ] old-fashioned slang (CRIMINAL)

a person who buys and sells stolen goods

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

fence

[fe̱ns]
♦♦♦
fences, fencing, fenced
1) N-COUNT A fence is a barrier between two areas of land, made of wood or wire supported by posts.
  Villagers say the fence would restrict public access to the hills.
2) VERB If you fence an area of land, you surround it with a fence.
  [V n] The first task was to fence the wood to exclude sheep...
  [V-ed] Thomas was playing in a little fenced area full of sand.
  Syn:
  close off
3) N-COUNT A fence in show jumping or horse racing is an obstacle or barrier that horses have to jump over.
  Syn:
  hurdle
4) N-COUNT A fence is a person who receives stolen property and then sells it. [INFORMAL]
  He originally acted as a fence for another gang before turning to burglary himself.
5) PHR-RECIP: V inflects, PHR with n, pl-n PHR If one country tries to mend fences with another, it tries to end a disagreement or quarrel with the other country. You can also say that two countries mend fences.
  Washington was last night doing its best to mend fences with the Europeans, saying it understood their concerns...
  The two countries fought a border war a decade ago, but now they are mending fences.
6) PHRASE: V inflects If you sit on the fence, you avoid supporting a particular side in a discussion or argument.
  They are sitting on the fence and refusing to commit themselves...
  He's not afraid of making decisions and is a man who never sits on the fence.
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - fence in
  - fence off

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

¹fence /ˈfɛns/ noun, pl fenc·es [count]
1 : a structure like a wall built outdoors usually of wood or metal that separates two areas or prevents people or animals from entering or leaving
• We put up a fence around our yard.
- see picture at house; see also chain-link fence
2 informal : a person who buys stolen property from thieves and sells it
mend fences
- see ¹mend
on the fence : unable to decide about something
• He tried to persuade those still (sitting) on the fence to vote in his favor.
the grass is always greener on the other side (of the fence)
- see ¹grass
- fence·less adj