hedge in WordNet English dictionary

1. avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
   "He dodged the issue"; "she skirted the problem"; "They tend to evade their responsibilities"; "he evaded the questions skillfully"
   hedge  fudge  evade  put off  circumvent  parry  elude  skirt  dodge  duck  sidestep 
   
2. minimize loss or risk
   "diversify your financial portfolio to hedge price risks"; "hedge your bets"
   hedge 
   
3. enclose or bound in with or as it with a hedge or hedges
   "hedge the property"
   hedge  hedge in 
   
4. hinder or restrict with or as if with a hedge
   "The animals were hedged in"
   hedge 
   

1. a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
   hedge  hedgerow 
   
2. an intentionally noncommittal or ambiguous statement
   "when you say `maybe' you are just hedging"
   hedge  hedging 
   
3. any technique designed to reduce or eliminate financial risk; for example, taking two positions that will offset each other if prices change
   hedge  hedging