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    fence

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    fence
    I
    fence1 S3 /fens/ 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.

    II
    fence2 verb
    1. [transitive] to put a fence around something:
        old farmhouses and fenced gardens
    2. [intransitive] to fight with a long thin sword as a sport
    3. [intransitive + with] to answer someone’s questions in a clever way in order to get an advantage in an argument
         
    fence somebody/something ↔ in phrasal verb
      1. to surround a place with a fence:
        The yard was fenced in to keep out wolves.
      2. to make someone feel that they cannot leave a place or do what they want:
        Young mothers often feel fenced in at home.
    fence something ↔ off phrasal verb
      to separate one area from another area with a fence:
        a planting area fenced off from the main garden