leather

B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun

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

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

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

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

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Sports British English · Informal

n. a ball used in sports like cricket or football.

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

“The batsman hit the leather hard toward the boundary.”

“The bowler polished the leather on his trousers, hoping to achieve more swing in the humid afternoon air.”

B1 · Intermediate

adj. describes something that is made from animal skin.

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

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

“The interior of the luxury sedan featured hand-stitched leather seats and a matching steering wheel cover.”

C2 · Proficiency Informal · British English

v. to hit something or someone very hard.

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

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

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