sheath

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technology Technical

n. the outer layer of plastic or rubber that protects an electrical wire.

n. the protective outer covering of an electrical cable or wire, providing insulation and mechanical protection.

“The electrician noticed that the plastic sheath of the wire was cracked.”

“Heavy-duty industrial cables require a reinforced sheath to withstand the extreme temperatures and friction of the factory floor.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a type of tight-fitting dress that follows the shape of a woman's body.

n. a close-fitting, straight-cut dress, often sleeveless and typically ending near the knee.

“She wore a simple black sheath dress to the cocktail party.”

“The designer's spring collection featured silk sheath dresses that emphasised a minimalist silhouette through precise tailoring.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical

n. a natural covering on a plant or animal, like the base of a leaf on a stem.

n. an enveloping tubular structure, such as the base of a grass leaf or a protective membrane in animal anatomy.

“In many types of grass, the leaf forms a sheath around the stem.”

“The nerve fibres are protected by a myelin sheath, which is essential for the rapid transmission of electrical impulses.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine British English · Informal

n. a rubber cover used during sex for protection.

n. a contraceptive device worn over the penis.

“The clinic provides free sheaths and health advice to young adults.”

“Public health campaigns in the 1980s often used the term sheath as a more formal or clinical alternative to common slang.”