# glove

/ˈɡɫəv/ (US) · /ɡlˈʌv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/glove
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. clothing for the hand

noun · CEFR A2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. sports equipment

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. condom

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for a condom.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to put on gloves

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to put gloves on your hands.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. to catch a ball

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

to catch a ball using a sports glove.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- You should wear a glove on each hand in this cold weather.
- The surgeon carefully pulled on a sterile latex glove before starting the operation.
- While mittens provide superior warmth by keeping the fingers together, a leather glove offers the dexterity required for driving or handling tools in winter.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.