1. The edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down
   "he stitched weights into the curtain's hem"; "it seeped along the hem of his jacket"; "the hem of her dress was stained"; "let down the hem"
    
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.
   "He gave a subtle hem to signal it was time to leave";
   - ahem

1. Fold over and sew together to provide with a hem
   "hem my skirt"
    
2. Utter 'hem' or 'ahem'
   "He hemmed nervously before speaking"

1. Gentle utterance used to call someone's attention
   - ahem, hmm, h'm

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, Norway