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Noun: hem  hem
  1. The edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down
    "the hem of her dress was stained"; "let down the hem"; "he stitched weights into the curtain's hem"; "it seeped along the hem of his jacket"
     
  2. The utterance of a sound similar to clearing the throat; intended to get attention, express hesitancy, fill a pause, hide embarrassment, warn a friend, etc.
    - ahem
Verb: hem (hemmed,hemming)  hem
  1. Fold over and sew together to provide with a hem
    "hem my skirt"
     
  2. Utter 'hem' or 'ahem'
Interjection: hem  hem
  1. Gentle utterance used to call someone's attention
    - ahem, hmm, h'm
Combining form: hem-
Usage: N. Amer (elsewhere: haem-)
  1. Blood
    - hemo- [N. Amer], haemo- [Brit, Cdn], haem- [Brit, Cdn], haemato- [Brit, Cdn], hemato- [N. Amer]

Derived forms: hemmed, hemming, hems

Type of: edge, emit, let loose, let out, run up, sew, sew together, stitch, stitch up, utter, utterance, vocalization

Part of: cloth, fabric, material, textile

Encyclopedia: Hem, Nord