Definition

1. Noun:
   • A covering for the hand, with separate sections for each finger and the thumb: A "glove" is a piece of clothing worn on the hand, typically made of leather, wool, or other materials, designed to protect or keep the hand warm.
   • A padded covering for the fist, used in sports like boxing: A "glove" can also refer to a large, padded mitt worn by boxers.
   • A protective mitt used in baseball by fielders: In baseball, a "glove" is the large leather mitt worn on the non-throwing hand to catch the ball.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She put on her warm leather gloves before going out in the snow.
  • The boxer laced up his gloves before the match.
  • The shortstop lost his glove during the play.

Advanced Usage

• "to fit like a glove": to fit perfectly.
  • The dress she bought fits like a glove.
• "to take off the gloves" / "to handle someone without gloves": to deal with someone in a harsh, direct, or uncompromising manner.
  • The negotiations started politely, but soon they took off the gloves.
• "to be hand in glove with (someone)": to be in very close association or collaboration with someone, often secretly.
  • The corrupt official was hand in glove with the local criminals.

Variants and Related Words

• Glove compartment (n): a small storage compartment in the dashboard of a car.
  • The manual is in the glove compartment.
• Gloved (adj): wearing a glove or gloves.
  • The gloved hand reached out.

Synonyms

• Mitten: A hand covering that encloses the four fingers together and the thumb separately.
• Gauntlet: A long, heavy glove, often part of medieval armor or protective workwear.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Glove up (v): to put on gloves, especially for protection.
  • The surgeon gloved up before the operation.

Related Idioms

• To throw down the glove: to issue a challenge.
  • By publishing that article, the journalist threw down the glove to the entire industry.
• To take up the glove: to accept a challenge.
  • The rival company took up the glove and announced a competing product.

Noun

1. boxing equipment consisting of big and padded coverings for the fists of the fighters; worn for the sport of boxing
2. handwear: covers the hand and wrist
3. the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball