sleeve

[ sleev ]

/ sliv /

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noun

the part of a garment that covers the arm, varying in form and length but commonly tubular.

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 form-fitting laptop sleeve;a 24-sleeve CD wallet.

a pliable tubular or rectangular container for crackers, cookies, and the like that is typically opened at one end to remove individual servings: I ate a whole sleeve of shortbreads before I realized how many calories that is!The largest box has four sleeves of saltines inside.

Machinery. a tubular piece, as of metal, fitting over a rod or the like.

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.

to furnish with sleeves.

Machinery. to fit with a sleeve; join or fasten by means of a sleeve.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

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Idioms about sleeve

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.

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

Origin of sleeve

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

OTHER WORDS FROM sleeve

sleeve·like, adjectiveun·sleeved, adjective

Words nearby sleeve

sleepy, sleepyhead, Sleepy Hollow chair, sleet, sleety, sleeve, sleeveboard, sleeve coupling, sleeve dog, sleeveen, sleeveless

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use sleeve in a sentence

Still, there is some evidence for it as a solid choice if we roll up our sleeves and do some sentiment analysis.
We Tried To Predict Which Word Amanda Gorman Would Say First At The Super Bowl|Josh Hermsmeyer|February 3, 2021|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.
Best winter gloves: Our picks for touch screen gloves, ski gloves, and more|PopSci Commerce Team|February 2, 2021|Popular-Science
Thumb holes help keep the sleeves in place as you pull on a shell.
The Kora Xenolith Is My Secret Weapon Against the Cold|Wes Siler|February 2, 2021|Outside Online
Nearly 20 million Americans have rolled up their sleeves and received a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Welcome to the “New” Issue of The Highlight|Vox Staff|February 1, 2021|Vox

“My love of this country has always been worn on my sleeve,” he wrote.
Hall of Fame voters pitch a shutout as character questions muddle Cooperstown debate|Dave Sheinin|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
I lie and nod my head yes while wiping the tears on my gray fleece sleeve.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Borrowing language from his father, Paul said he does not wear his religion “on my sleeve.”
Is Rand Paul Christian Enough for the GOP?|Olivia Nuzzi|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Prince Harry has a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve.
Harry's Heartbreaking Empathy For Orphaned Brazilian Children|Tom Sykes|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I think with Jason, he really does wear his heart on his sleeve.
‘True Blood’ Star Ryan Kwanten Looks Back on Jason Stackhouse’s Craziest Scenes|Kevin Fallon|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When the gamma rays enter the sleeve, they interact with that photon gas, annihilating into electron-positron pairs.
We Can Create Matter from Light?!|Matthew R. Francis|May 20, 2014|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.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
The tears came so fast to Mrs. Pontellier's eyes that the damp sleeve of her peignoir no longer served to dry them.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
"I most humbly thank your lordship," replied the butler with an air of profound gratitude, as he chuckled in his sleeve.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
I queried; and as I asked the question I noticed for the first time the gilt bars on his coat sleeve.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Then Edwin was bending over it, with his ear close to her ear, and the sleeve of his overcoat touching her sleeve.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett

British Dictionary definitions for sleeve

sleeve

/ (sliːv) /

noun

the part of a garment covering the arm

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

a tube fitted externally over two cylindrical parts in order to join them; bush

a flat cardboard or plastic container to protect a gramophone recordUS name: jacket

roll up one's sleeves to prepare oneself for work, a fight, etc

up one's sleeve secretly ready

verb

(tr) to provide with a sleeve or sleeves

Derived forms of sleeve

sleeveless, adjectivesleevelike, adjective

Word Origin for sleeve

Old English slīf, slēf; related to Dutch sloof apron

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with sleeve

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.