fence

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /fɛns/ or [fɛns] or [fɛnts]
• SAMPA: /fEn(t)s/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular fence

Plural fences

1. (countable) A fence is like a thin wall that is not part of a building. It stops people or animals from going from one outdoors place to another. It may have many big holes that you can see through, but not big enough for people to walk through.

   We put up a tall fence around the yard so that the dog couldn't get out.

2. (countable) A fence is a person who buys things from people who stole the things, and then sells the things again to other people.

   I don't think anyone will steal this, because they wouldn't get much money for it. They'd have to sell it to a fence.

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Verb

Plain form fence

Third-person singular fences

Past tense fenced

Past participle fenced

Present participle fencing

Two fencers fencing with each other

1. (transitive) When someone fences a piece of land, they put up a fence around it.

   This field has been fenced for years, because they used to keep cows here.

2. (intransitive) When someone fences, they fight with swords as a sport.

   I can hear the sound of the swords hitting each other, from people fencing in the gym.

3. (transitive) When someone fences something, they sell it to a fence.

   We can't give you back what we stole. We fenced it.