hedge

hedge

I

hedge¹ /hedʒ/ noun [countable]1. a row of small bushes or trees growing close together, usually dividing one field or garden from another
2. something that protects you against possible problems, especially financial loss
    hedge against
    Buying a house will be a hedge against inflation.
⇨ look as if you’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards at drag¹(13)
     

THESAURUS

■ areas and structures in a garden
   ▪ lawn [countable] an area of short grass in a garden: They were sitting on the front lawn of the house.
   ▪ flowerbed [countable] an area of ground where you grow flowers: The flowerbeds were well maintained.
   ▪ rockery [countable] British English an area of a garden where there are rocks with small flowers growing between them
   ▪ hedge [countable] a row of small bushes or trees growing close together, used for dividing one garden from another: a beech hedge
   ▪ vegetable patch/plot [countable] (also kitchen garden British English) a part of a garden where you grow vegetables
   ▪ patio [countable] a flat stone area next to a house, where people sit outside
   ▪ decking [uncountable] a flat wooden area in a garden, where people can sit
   ▪ pond [countable] a small area of water in a garden
   ▪ water feature [countable] a small pool or structure with water running through it, used to make a garden look more attractive
   ▪ greenhouse [countable] a glass building where you can grow plants that need protection from the weather
   ▪ shed [countable] a small wooden building in a garden, where you can store things

II

hedge² verb (past tense and past participle hedged, present participle hedging) [intransitive and transitive]
1. to avoid giving a direct answer to a question:
    You’re hedging again – have you got the money or haven’t you?
    ‘That depends on my partner,’ she hedged.
2. hedge your bets to reduce your chances of failure or loss by trying several different possibilities instead of one:
    It’s a good idea to hedge your bets by applying to more than one college.
     
hedge against something phrasal verb
  to try to protect yourself against possible problems, especially financial loss:
    Smart managers will hedge against price increases.
hedge in phrasal verb be hedged in
  1. to be surrounded or enclosed by something:
    The building was hedged in by trees.
  2. if you feel hedged in by something, you feel that your freedom is restricted by it