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'

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.

[ Syn: ahem ]

fold over and sew together to provide with a hem; hem my skirt'

utter `hem' or `ahem'