Sleeve
/sliːv/
nounA2
Definition
A sleeve is the part of a shirt, jacket, or dress that covers the arm from the shoulder to the wrist or shorter. It helps protect the arm and can be different lengths and styles. The word sleeve is also used for a thin cover that holds or protects flat objects like a record or a playing card.
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See It in Action
Part of clothing covering the arm
- •The jacket has long sleeves to keep you warm.
- •She rolled up her sleeves before cooking.
- •His shirt sleeves were too short for his arms.
A protective cover for flat objects
- •The record came in a colorful sleeve.
- •Put your playing cards back in the plastic sleeves.
- •The book had a paper sleeve with the title printed on it.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "sleeve" like "arm cover," but it is part of the clothing itself, not a separate item.
- ✓Picture putting your arm into a tube of fabric that is attached to your shirt or jacket.
- ✓It's the feeling of wearing a long shirt on a cool day, where your arm is covered and warm.
- ✓Sounds like "sleeve" → imagine sliding your arm into a soft tube (like a "sleeve" on a jacket).
- ✓Remember the phrase "wear your heart on your sleeve," meaning to show your feelings openly.
- ✓NOT like "glove" (which covers the hand and fingers), a sleeve covers only the arm.
- ✓NOT like "jacket" (whole outer clothing), a sleeve is just one part of the clothing.
- ✓NOT like "pocket" (a small bag on clothes), a sleeve is a tube shape for the arm.
Try Other Words
- •Arm cover: meaning the part of clothing that covers the arm (Use when explaining simply what a sleeve is)
- •Case: meaning a thin protective cover for objects (Use when talking about sleeves for records or cards)
- •Cuff: meaning the end part of a sleeve (Use when focusing on the sleeve’s edge near the wrist)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: sleeve (whole word, no prefix or suffix)
- •Etymology: From Old English "slēfe," meaning a covering for the arm
- •Historical development: The word has been used for many centuries to describe the part of clothing covering the arm
- •Modern usage: Used for clothing parts and also for thin protective covers for flat items like records, cards, or even envelopes
Reflect & Connect
•How do different sleeve lengths change the style or use of clothing?
•Can you think of other objects that have "sleeves" besides clothes and records?
Fill in the blanks
1.She rolled up her sleeve ___ to wash her hands quickly.
2.The jacket’s sleeve was too ___ for his long arms.
3.A record’s sleeve helps to ___ it from scratches and dust.
4.When he felt cold, he pulled down his sleeves to ___ his arms.
5.Unlike gloves, sleeves only cover the ___, not the hands or fingers.
6.The cards were kept safe inside plastic sleeves to prevent ___.
7.In the phrase "wear your heart on your sleeve," the sleeve means to show your ___ openly.