noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ˈhɛmˌlaɪn/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:HH EH1 M L AY2 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The line formed by the bottom edge of a skirt, dress, or coat; hem.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The height of this line, measured from the floor.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
above-knee hemline
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
the line formed by the lower edge of a skirt or coat
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: line
History
Etymology
From hem + line.
Across languages
Translations
13 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
подгъв
(podgǎv)
— line — see also hem
Finnish:
helmalinja
— line — see also hem
French:
ourlet
— line — see also hem
German:
Saum
— line — see also hem
Irish:
fáithimlíne
— line — see also hem
Italian:
orlo
— line — see also hem
Japanese:
裾
(suso)
— line — see also hem
Bulgarian:
дължина на дреха
(dǎlžina na dreha)
— height