sleeve

[ sleev ]

noun

1. the part of a garment that covers the arm, varying in form and length but commonly tubular.
2. a protective container, usually thin and flexible with an opening on one side for insertion or removal of an item, as a paper storage envelope for a phonograph record, or a padded case for a tablet or other electronic device: a 24-sleeve CD wallet.

   a form-fitting laptop sleeve;

   a 24-sleeve CD wallet.

3. a pliable tubular or rectangular container for crackers, cookies, and the like that is typically opened at one end to remove individual servings: The largest box has four sleeves of saltines inside.

   I ate a whole sleeve of shortbreads before I realized how many calories that is!

   The largest box has four sleeves of saltines inside.

4. Machinery. a tubular piece, as of metal, fitting over a rod or the like.
5. a pattern of tattoos that covers the arm from shoulder to wrist in one integrated piece of tattoo art:

   I got my first tattoo when I turned 18, and by 28 I had full sleeves on both arms.

verb (used with object)

, sleeved, sleev·ing.

1. to furnish with sleeves.
2. Machinery. to fit with a sleeve; join or fasten by means of a sleeve.

sleeve

/ sliːv /

noun

1. the part of a garment covering the arm
2. a tubular piece that is forced or shrunk into a cylindrical bore to reduce the diameter of the bore or to line it with a different material; liner
3. a tube fitted externally over two cylindrical parts in order to join them; bush
4. a flat cardboard or plastic container to protect a gramophone record US namejacket
5. roll up one's sleeves
   roll up one's sleeves to prepare oneself for work, a fight, etc
6. up one's sleeve
   up one's sleeve secretly ready

verb

1. tr to provide with a sleeve or sleeves

Derived Forms

• ˈsleeveˌlike, adjective
• ˈsleeveless, adjective

Other Words From

• sleeve·like adjective
• un·sleeved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleeve¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English sleve, slieve, Old English slēfe (Anglian), slīefe; akin to Dutch sloof “apron”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleeve¹

Old English slīf, slēf; related to Dutch sloof apron

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have something up one's sleeve, to have a secret plan, scheme, opinion, or the like:

   I could tell by her sly look that she had something up her sleeve.

2. laugh up / in one's sleeve, to be secretly amused or contemptuous; laugh inwardly:

   to laugh up one's sleeve at someone's affectations.

More idioms and phrases containing sleeve

see card up one's sleeve ; laugh up one's sleeve ; roll up one's sleeves ; wear one's heart on one's sleeve .

Example Sentences

Still, there is some evidence for it as a solid choice if we roll up our sleeves and do some sentiment analysis.

From FiveThirtyEight

Keeping the cold air and snow out of the glove will keep you dry and also it will be sure there aren’t any drafts between your glove and your sleeve.

From Popular-Science

Thumb holes help keep the sleeves in place as you pull on a shell.

From Outside Online

Nearly 20 million Americans have rolled up their sleeves and received a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

From Vox

“My love of this country has always been worn on my sleeve,” he wrote.

From Washington Post

I lie and nod my head yes while wiping the tears on my gray fleece sleeve.

From The Daily Beast

Borrowing language from his father, Paul said he does not wear his religion “on my sleeve.”

From The Daily Beast

Prince Harry has a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve.

From The Daily Beast

I think with Jason, he really does wear his heart on his sleeve.

From The Daily Beast

When the gamma rays enter the sleeve, they interact with that photon gas, annihilating into electron-positron pairs.

From The Daily Beast

She was holding the back of her chair with one hand; her loose sleeve had slipped almost to the shoulder of her uplifted arm.

From Project Gutenberg

The tears came so fast to Mrs. Pontellier's eyes that the damp sleeve of her peignoir no longer served to dry them.

From Project Gutenberg

"I most humbly thank your lordship," replied the butler with an air of profound gratitude, as he chuckled in his sleeve.

From Project Gutenberg

I queried; and as I asked the question I noticed for the first time the gilt bars on his coat sleeve.

From Project Gutenberg

Then Edwin was bending over it, with his ear close to her ear, and the sleeve of his overcoat touching her sleeve.

From Project Gutenberg