A Quick and Simple Dictionary

hedge

1. Noun.  A thicket of bushes, usually thorn bushes; especially, such a thicket planted as a fence between any two portions of land; and also any sort of shrubbery, as evergreens, planted in a line or as a fence; particularly, such a thicket planted round a field to fence it, or in rows to separate the parts of a garden.
2. Noun.  A non-committal or intentionally ambiguous statement.
3. Noun.  (finance) Contract or arrangement reducing one's exposure to risk (for example the risk of price movements or interest rate movements).
4. Noun.  (UK, Ireland) Used attributively, with figurative indication of a person's upbringing, or professional activities, taking place by the side of the road; third-rate.
5. Verb.  (transitive) To enclose.
6. Verb.  (transitive) To obstruct.
7. Verb.  (transitive, finance) To offset the risk associated with.
8. Verb.  (intransitive) To avoid verbal commitment.
9. Verb.  (intransitive) To construct or repair a hedge.
10. Verb.  (intransitive, finance) To reduce one's exposure to risk.