- The definition of a sleeve is the part of a shirt or other garment that covers your arm, or a protective covering that fits over something, such as a record.
- The cotton material that extends from the shoulder of your shirt down to your wrists is an example of a sleeve.
- The white paper envelope that a CD or record fits into is an example of a sleeve.
- that part of a garment that covers an arm or part of an arm
- a tube or tubelike part fitting over or around another part
- a thin paper or plastic cover for protecting a phonograph record, usually within a jacket ()
- a drogue towed by an airplane for target practice
Origin of sleeveMiddle English sleve ; from Old English sliefe, akin to Dutch sloof, apron: for Indo-European base see slip
up one's sleeve
- A part of a garment that covers all or part of an arm.
- A case into which an object or device fits: a record sleeve.
- A tattoo that covers all or a large part of the arm.
transitive verbsleeved sleeved, sleev·ing, sleeves
Origin of sleeveMiddle English sleve, from Old English slēf; see sleubh- in Indo-European roots.
- The part of a garment that covers the arm. [from 10th c.]
- The sleeves on my coat are too long.
- A (usually tubular) covering or lining to protect a piece of machinery etc. [from 19th c.]
- A protective jacket or case, especially for a record, containing art and information about the contents; also the analogous leaflet found in a packaged CD. [from 20th c.]
- A narrow channel of water.
- sleave; untwisted thread.
- (British Columbia) A serving of beer measuring between 14 and 16 ounces.
(third-person singular simple present sleeves, present participle sleeving, simple past and past participle sleeved)
- to fit a sleeve to
From Middle English sleve, from Old English sliefe, slefe.