sleeves
sleeves — noun
- sleevessingular
- sleevesesplural
1. on a garment such as a shirt, jacket, or dress, the section of fabric that exten
on a garment such as a shirt, jacket, or dress, the section of fabric that extends from the shoulder down over part of or the whole arm
Marco rolled up his sleeves and began washing the dishes after dinner.
roll up + sleeves — idiom for preparing to work
The tailor shortened the sleeves on Kevin's new jacket so they would fit properly.
shorten + sleeves — tailoring collocation
Mizuki wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her blue dress.
Long sleeves keep your arms warm on cold winter mornings.
The sleeves on this shirt are tight around my elbows when I bend my arms.
- hem
the bottom edge of a garment (skirt, dress), not an arm covering
文法句型
[possessive] + sleeve(s)
long/short + sleeve(s)
用法筆記
When describing a garment's sleeve length, use 'long-sleeved' or 'short-sleeved' as compound adjectives before the noun (e.g., 'a long-sleeved shirt'). This sense is also used in the idiom 'roll up one's sleeves,' meaning to prepare for hard work.
常見錯誤
2. a thin covering made of paper, plastic, or fabric that fits over an object to ke
a thin covering made of paper, plastic, or fabric that fits over an object to keep it clean, dry, or safe from scratches and damage
Wren placed each vinyl record back in its paper sleeve after playing it.
paper sleeve — common collocation for record covers
The librarian put a clear plastic sleeve around the old book to protect the cover.
plastic sleeve — common collocation for protective covers
Padma stored the photograph in a protective sleeve to stop it from bending.
Each CD comes in a cardboard sleeve with the song titles printed on the front.
文法句型
[material] + sleeve
protective + sleeve
in/inside + a/the + sleeve
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: the protective-cover sense describes a separate, removable object that holds something else, not a permanent part of a garment. Common with 'paper,' 'plastic,' 'cardboard,' and 'protective.'
常見錯誤
❌ 'The book has a sleeve.' (when meaning a dust jacket) — 'dust jacket' is the more precise term for book covers; 'sleeve' usually describes a removable storage cover.
3. a cylindrical component that fits around a shaft, cable, or other machine part t
a cylindrical component that fits around a shaft, cable, or other machine part to protect it from wear, reduce friction, or prevent leaks
The mechanic checked the rubber sleeve that protects the wire near the engine.
rubber sleeve — material + sleeve for machine protection
A metal sleeve around the drive shaft stops the moving parts from grinding together.
Gabriel replaced the worn sleeve on the pump shaft to stop the oil leak.
The copper sleeve inside the motor keeps the axle centred as it spins.
文法句型
[material] + sleeve
sleeve + on/around + [machine part]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: this sense refers to a mechanical part built into a machine, not a removable storage cover. The material is typically metal, rubber, or plastic. Common in engineering and repair contexts. Frequently passive when describing installation: 'a sleeve is fitted over the shaft.'
常見錯誤
❌ 'This metal sleeve' (when you mean 'pipe' or 'tube') — a mechanical sleeve fits around something; a pipe or tube carries fluid through it.
4. a tattoo or a group of tattoos that covers a person's arm completely from the sh
a tattoo or a group of tattoos that covers a person's arm completely from the shoulder to the wrist, giving the look of a fabric sleeve
Trang saved for two years to get a full floral sleeve on her right arm.
floral sleeve — describing the tattoo's design pattern
The tattoo artist told Ziad that a full sleeve would require several long sessions.
full sleeve — standard term for a complete arm tattoo
Roya showed off her new sleeve of ocean waves and sea creatures at the beach.
Adaeze designed her own sleeve using patterns inspired by traditional Nigerian art.
- full arm tattoo
more literal and less idiomatic; 'sleeve' is the preferred term in tattoo shops
- inked arm
describes the result rather than the type of tattoo
- body suit
a much larger tattoo covering the torso or full body, not just the arm
文法句型
[design] + sleeve
have/get + a + [adjective] + sleeve
full/half + sleeve
用法筆記
This sense is unique to tattoo culture and is used informally. A 'full sleeve' covers the entire arm; a 'half sleeve' covers from shoulder to elbow or from elbow to wrist. The word 'sleeve' alone is sufficient — do not add 'tattoo' after it unless needed for clarity with non-specialist readers.