noun / verb
fence
A barrier around or between areas, or to enclose with one.
A wooden fence separates our yard from the neighbor's garden.
Etymology
Fence is shortened from defence. A protective enclosure became the familiar physical barrier, and the noun also supplied the verb for putting such a barrier around land.
More examples
- We fence the pasture to keep the horses inside.
- They fenced off the damaged section of the playground.
- Tall fences line both sides of the path.
Forms
fence · fences · fenced · fencing
fencing noun — Material used to build a fence.