sleeve

UK: /ˈsliːv/ US: /sliv/ ,(slēv)

Inflections of 'sleeve' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

sleeves

v 3rd person singular

sleeving

v pres p

sleeved

v past

sleeved

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sleeve /sliv/   n. [countable]

1. the part of a garment that covers the arm:
   He rolled up his sleeves and began to work.
2. Sound Reproduction an envelope, usually of paper or cardboard, for protecting a phonograph record.
3. Mechanical Engineering a tube-shaped piece, as of metal, fitting over a rod or the like.

Idioms

4. Idioms up one's sleeve, [uncountable] kept hidden, esp. for future use against another:
   He's got some trick up his sleeve.

sleeve•less, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sleeve  (slēv), n., v., sleeved, sleev•ing. 
n. 

1. the part of a garment that covers the arm, varying in form and length but commonly tubular.
2. Sound Reproduction an envelope, usually of paper, for protecting a phonograph record.
3. Mechanical Engineering [Mach.] a tubular piece, as of metal, fitting over a rod or the like.
4. laugh up or in one's sleeve, to be secretly amused or contemptuous;
   laugh inwardly:
   to laugh up one's sleeve at someone's affectations.
5. 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.

v.t. 

6. to furnish with sleeves.
7. [Mach.] to fit with a sleeve;
   join or fasten by means of a sleeve.

• bef. 950; Middle English sleve, Old English slēfe (Anglian), slīefe; akin to Dutch sloof apron

sleeve′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

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 name: jacket
5. roll up one's sleeves ⇒ to prepare oneself for work, a fight, etc
6. up one's sleeve ⇒ secretly ready

verb

1. (transitive) to provide with a sleeve or sleeves

Etymology: Old English slīf, slēf; related to Dutch sloof apron

ˈsleeveless adjective

ˈsleeveˌlike adjective