sleeve

noun

ˈslēv How to pronounce sleeve (audio)
plural sleeves
1
a
: a part of a garment covering an arm
b
: sleevelet
2
a
: a tubular part (such as a hollow axle or a bushing) designed to fit over another part
b
: an open-ended flat or tubular packaging or cover
especially : jacket sense 3c(2)
3
: a collection of tattoos or one large tattoo that covers the arm or leg
A tall and burly white man, he had a sleeve of tattoos on one arm …—Michelle Goldberg
Tattoo artists explain exactly where to start, the types of designs that work well on arms, and how long a full sleeve might take.—Allure
Conder has a horror and Halloween-themed leg sleeve, but for the most part, her tattoos are random designs pieced together.—Kacie Goode
Not everyone in Brooklyn has a … sleeve tattoo …—A. O. Scott
sleeved
ˈslēvd How to pronounce sleeve (audio)
adjective
sleeveless
ˈslēv-ləs How to pronounce sleeve (audio)
adjective
Phrases
on one's sleeve
: in an honest and open manner
—used with wear
wears his emotions on his sleeve
up one's sleeve
: held secretly in reserve
has a few tricks up her sleeve

Examples of sleeve in a Sentence

a shirt with long sleeves The joint is covered with a metal sleeve.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In one last-minute ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld that if voters in Pennsylvania didn’t use the secrecy sleeve for sending in their mail-in ballot, they were allowed to have a provisional ballot counted instead. —Brian Bennett, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024 The sisal sleeve is also replaceable ($45), so unlike cheaper scratchers, the whole thing doesn’t need to be tossed when spent. —Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024 The sleeves are a little longer than the other flannels on this list—ideal for when my arms were extended on the mountain bike. —Bryan Rogala, Outside Online, 3 Nov. 2024 Thanks to the padded fabric sleeve, our tester was thrilled at how durable the Storypod was, withstanding a few drops down the stairs. —Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sleeve 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sleve, going back to Old English slīefe (West Saxon), slēfe (Anglian), feminine weak noun, going back to a Germanic noun base *slaubj- (whence also East Frisian [Saterland] sleeuwe "sleeve," North Frisian [Mooring] sliiw), from a verbal root *slaub- seen also in Old English slēfan (weak verb) "to slip (clothes) on," Middle Dutch slōven "to roll up, strip off, slip over something," sloof "coat of rough cloth, habit," slove "cover, wrapper," regional German Schlaube "skin, peel (of fruit, etc.)," going back to Indo-European *slou̯bh-, causative derivative of *sleu̯bh- "move easily, slip," whence also Latin (with suffix *-re/o-ko-) lūbricus "slippery, difficult to hold"

Note: This Germanic etymon for "sleeve" is evidently of Anglo-Frisian date, judging by its appearance in North and East Frisian; in West Frisian it appears to have been replaced by Dutch mouw. —The postulation of *slou̯bh- is based on the R. Lühr's hypothesis (see note at slip entry 5), though others appear to regard *slaub- as arising within Germanic, without positing an Indo-European base (thus Feist/Lehmann, A Gothic Etymological Dictionary; G. Kroonen, Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic); thereby the verb *sleupan- "to creep, glide" (see slip entry 5) can be added to the above group of words, as well as Gothic afslaupjan "to strip off (a garment)," a causative with o-grade ablaut. Kroonen additionally cites also Old Frisian slēpan "to fasten, put (a noose around the neck)" and Old Saxon slōpian "to loosen." The putative Old English verb slīepan cited by Feist/Lehmann and Kroonen does not appear to exist, nor does slíefan cited by Lühr. Kroonen cites as a form comparative within Indo-European Lithuanian įslupti "to slip in" and Latvian šļupt "to glide out." For more Germanic nominal derivatives see slop entry 1.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sleeve was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing sleeve

Dictionary Entries Near sleeve

sleet

sleeve

sleeve bearing

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Sleeve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleeve. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

sleeve

noun
ˈslēv How to pronounce sleeve (audio)
1
: the part of a garment covering the arm
2
: a part that fits over or around something like a sleeve
sleeved
ˈslēvd How to pronounce sleeve (audio)
adjective
sleeveless
ˈslēv-ləs How to pronounce sleeve (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on sleeve

Nglish: Translation of sleeve for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sleeve for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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