English Reference

Word

glove

US/ˈɡɫəv/

UK/ɡlˈʌv/

Definitions

01clothing for the hand

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a piece of clothing that covers your hand and fingers to keep them warm or safe.

n. a covering for the hand, typically having separate sections for each finger and the thumb.

“She put on her leather gloves before going out into the cold morning air.”

“The surgeon pulled on a pair of sterile latex gloves before beginning the delicate procedure.”

Synonyms

mitten

02sports equipment

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Sports

n. a thick, padded covering for the hand used in sports like baseball or boxing.

n. a padded or reinforced hand covering designed for protection or performance in specific sports.

“The catcher caught the fast ball right in the centre of his glove.”

“The boxer tightened the laces on his gloves, preparing for the final round of the championship match.”

Synonyms

03condom

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Slang · Informal

n. a slang word for a condom.

n. a slang term for a condom, often used in the phrase 'no glove, no love'.

“He made sure he had a glove in his wallet before going out.”

“The health clinic distributed free gloves and educational pamphlets to promote safe practices among the local student population.”

Synonyms

04to put on gloves

C1 · Advanced Literary

v. to put gloves on your hands.

v. to cover or provide the hands with gloves; often used in the passive or as a participle.

“The butler was neatly gloved in white silk as he opened the door.”

“The protagonist was carefully gloved and masked, hiding any physical evidence of his identity from the witnesses.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

unglove

05to catch a ball

B2 · Upper Intermediate Sports American English

v. to catch a ball using a sports glove.

v. to successfully catch a ball using a baseball mitt or similar equipment.

“The shortstop gloved the ground ball and threw it quickly to first base.”

“He expertly gloved the line drive, preventing what would have surely been a home run for the opposing team.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “glove” in context.

Verb

01. glove fit

“I need a smaller size because these gloves don't fit well.”

noun + verb

02. glove protect

“These heavy-duty gloves protect your hands from thorns.”

noun + verb

03. pull on glove

“The surgeon carefully pulled on his sterile gloves.”

verb + noun

04. put on glove

“She put on her gloves before heading out into the snow.”

verb + noun

Adjective

05. fingerless glove

“Fingerless gloves are useful for typing in a cold office.”

adj + noun

06. leather glove

“He wore thick leather gloves to protect his hands while gardening.”

adj + noun

07. protective glove

“All laboratory staff must wear protective gloves at all times.”

adj + noun

08. rubber glove

“You should wear rubber gloves when using strong cleaning chemicals.”

adj + noun

Noun

09. pair of gloves

“I bought a new pair of gloves for the ski trip.”

noun + prep + noun

10. a pair of woolly gloves

“She wore a pair of woolly gloves to keep her fingers warm.”

11. fit like a glove

“I tried the dress on and it fit like a glove.”

12. hand in glove with

“The police were working hand in glove with the local authorities.”

Etymology

From Middle English glove, glofe, from Old English glōf, glōfe, glōfa, ("glove"; weak forms attested only in plural form glōfan (“gloves”)), from Proto-Germanic galōfô (“glove”), from Proto-Germanic ga- (“collective and associative prefix”) + Proto-Germanic lōfô (“flat of the hand, palm”), from Proto-Indo-European lāp-, lēp-, lep- (“flat”). Cognate with Scots gluve, gluive (“glove”), Icelandic glófi (“glove”). Related to Middle English lofe, lufe (“palm of the hand”). More at loof.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Frequent
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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