Definition

1. Noun:
   • The sleeve of a shirt: The part of a shirt that covers all or part of the arm.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He rolled up his shirtsleeve to wash his hands.
  • A stain on the shirtsleeve was difficult to remove.
  • The dress code requires a jacket, so working in your shirtsleeve is not permitted.

Advanced Usage

• "in (one's) shirtsleeves": Dressed in a shirt but without a jacket or coat over it; informally dressed for work or in warm weather.
  • The office was hot, so the manager worked in his shirtsleeves.
  • They were relaxing in their shirtsleeves on the porch.

Variants and Related Words

• Shirtsleeved (adj): Wearing a shirt with the sleeves not covered by a jacket.
  • The shirtsleeved workers gathered for the meeting.
• Shirtsleeve environment/atmosphere (n): An informal, practical, or hands-on working environment.
  • The startup fostered a shirtsleeve environment where everyone contributed directly.

Synonyms

• Sleeve (n): The part of a garment that wholly or partly covers an arm. (Note: This is a more general term; "shirtsleeve" specifies the sleeve of a shirt.)

Notes on Meaning

• The term is most commonly used in its plural form ("shirtsleeves") within the idiomatic phrase "in (one's) shirtsleeves" to denote a state of informal dress or readiness for physical work.
• As a singular noun ("shirtsleeve"), it typically refers literally to the sleeve itself, often in contexts describing its condition (e.g., dirty, rolled-up).

Noun

1. the sleeve of a shirt