# sleeve

/ˈsɫiv/ (US) · /slˈiːv/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. clothing

noun · CEFR A2

the part of a shirt, jacket, or sweater that covers your arm.

For teachers: the part of a garment that covers the arm, varying in length from the shoulder to the wrist.

- He rolled up his sleeves before he started washing the dishes.
- The tailor suggested shortening the sleeves by half an inch to ensure the shirt cuffs sat perfectly against the wrist.

### 2. protective cover

noun · CEFR B1

a thin cover used to protect an object, like a record or a coffee cup.

For teachers: a protective jacket or tubular casing designed to house or insulate an object.

- She carefully slid the vinyl record back into its paper sleeve.
- The barista handed him the hot latte with a cardboard sleeve to protect his fingers from the heat.

### 3. arm tattoo

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a large tattoo or group of tattoos that covers a person's entire arm.

For teachers: a comprehensive tattoo or collection of tattoos that covers the entirety of a person's arm from shoulder to wrist.

- He spent over twenty hours in the studio finishing his floral sleeve.
- The artist specialised in black-and-grey realism, often spending months designing intricate full-arm sleeves for his clients.

### 4. mechanical lining

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a tube-shaped piece used to line or protect a part of a machine.

For teachers: a tubular lining or covering designed to protect a mechanical shaft or provide a bearing surface.

- The mechanic replaced the worn sleeve in the engine's cylinder.
- The engineer specified a hardened steel sleeve to reduce friction and prevent premature wear on the rotating assembly.

### 5. to attach a sleeve

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to put a sleeve onto a piece of clothing or a machine part.

For teachers: to fit or furnish with a sleeve; often used in manufacturing or technical repair contexts.

- The factory worker had to sleeve hundreds of cables every hour.
- The technician began to sleeve the damaged section of the pipe with a composite material to prevent further leaking.

## Examples

- I rolled up my sleeves before I started cooking.
- The winter coat has thick, insulated sleeves to protect the wearer from freezing temperatures.
- The tailor suggested shortening the sleeves by an inch to ensure the shirt cuffs would sit perfectly against the wrist.

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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.