ENGLISH
REFERENCE

leather

n. · adj. · v.
US //ˈɫɛðɝ// UK //lˈɛðɐ// leather
  1. 1 material (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a strong, flexible material made by cleaning and treating animal skin.

    a durable material produced by tanning or similar chemical treatment of animal hides, typically from cattle.

    Example

    He bought a high-quality leather jacket that would last for years.

    Example

    The artisan selected a supple piece of full-grain leather to ensure the handmade boots would be both durable and comfortable.
  2. 2 clothing (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    clothes made of leather, especially the protective gear worn by motorcycle riders.

    protective or stylistic garments made from animal hide, frequently used in the plural to refer to a motorcyclist's suit.

    Example

    The biker put on his leathers before heading out on the highway.

    Example

    Professional racers wear reinforced leathers designed to protect them from abrasions during high-speed falls on the track.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural form 'leathers' when referring to a full motorcycle suit.
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  1. 3 the ball (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Informal Sport

    a ball used in sports like cricket or football.

    a metonymic reference to a ball used in sports, specifically one traditionally constructed with a leather exterior.

    Example

    The batsman hit the leather hard toward the boundary.

    Example

    The bowler polished the leather on his trousers, hoping to achieve more swing in the humid afternoon air.
  2. 4 made of leather (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    describes something that is made from animal skin.

    denoting an object constructed from tanned animal hide; typically used attributively before a noun.

    Example

    She sat down in a comfortable leather chair in the library.

    Example

    The interior of the luxury sedan featured hand-stitched leather seats and a matching steering wheel cover.
    • leathern
  3. 5 to hit hard (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal British English

    to hit something or someone very hard.

    to strike with great force; often used in the context of sports or physical punishment.

    Example

    The striker leathered the ball into the back of the net.

    Example

    The defender leathered the clearance out of the stadium to prevent a last-minute goal from the opposing team.

    Usage

    Transitive verb taking a direct object.
Origin

From Middle English lether, from Old English leþer (“leather”), from Proto-West Germanic leþr, from Proto-Germanic leþrą (“leather”), possibly borrowed from Proto-Celtic ɸlitrom, letros, from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥tro-. Cognate with West Frisian leare (“leather”), Low German Leder (“leather”), Dutch leder, leer (“leather”), German Leder (“leather”), Danish læder (“leather”), Swedish läder (“leather”), Icelandic leður (“leather”).

Idioms3 entries

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