glove
glove
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "glove" is /ɡlʌv/.
glove: /ɡlʌv/
Word Form Variations
Noun: glove (singular), gloves (plural)
Verb: glove (base form), gloves (third person singular present), gloved (past tense, past participle), gloving (present participle)
Adjective: gloved (as in "gloved hand"), gloveless
Adverb: (No direct adverb form)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Glove
A covering for the hand having separate sheaths for each finger and the thumb, used for protection or warmth.
Synonyms: mitten (if no separate fingers), gauntlet (historical/protective), mitt (sports specific)
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms; refers to a type of apparel)
(Sports) A large padded covering for the hand used in certain sports, such as baseball or boxing, for protection or catching.
Synonyms: mitt, boxing glove, catcher's mitt
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms; refers to a specific piece of sports equipment)
Verb
Glove
To cover or provide with a glove or gloves.
Synonyms: don, put on (gloves), sheath (rare)
Antonyms: unglove, remove (gloves)
(Sports) To catch (a ball) with a glove.
Synonyms: catch, snag, field
Antonyms: drop, miss
Adjective
Gloved
Wearing a glove or gloves.
Synonyms: hatted (by analogy), protected, covered
Antonyms: ungloved, barehanded
Gloveless
Not wearing a glove or gloves; without gloves.
Synonyms: barehanded, unprotected
Antonyms: gloved, protected
Examples of Use
Books
Non-fiction (Sports/Medical): Books on baseball or boxing feature detailed sections on different types of "gloves." A medical text might discuss the importance of sterile gloves in surgery. "Boxers wear padded gloves for protection" (Human Kinetics, January 2023).
Fiction: Characters might put on gloves before handling something delicate or to disguise their fingerprints. "She pulled on a pair of leather driving gloves."
DIY/Gardening Manuals: These often recommend wearing protective gloves for certain tasks.
Newspapers
News Articles: Journalists report on safety regulations requiring protective "gloves" in certain industries, or crime stories involving DNA evidence found on a glove. "New safety measures mandate heat-resistant gloves for factory workers" (The Guardian, July 2025).
Sports Sections: Reports on baseball or boxing often mention a player's or fighter's gloves. "The catcher made a spectacular play, snaring the ball in his glove."
Fashion Sections: Articles might feature new trends in winter gloves or designer gloves.
Online Publications
E-commerce Sites: Retailers sell a vast array of "gloves" for different purposes: winter gloves, gardening gloves, medical gloves, boxing gloves, etc. "Shop our collection of waterproof ski gloves."
DIY/Craft Blogs: Many blogs offer tutorials on knitting or sewing gloves, or repurposing old gloves.
Sports News Websites: Sites like MLB.com or ESPN feature articles on baseball players' gloves or boxing match recaps that mention gloves.
Health and Safety Websites: Organizations publish guidelines on when and how to wear disposable gloves for hygiene.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Movies/TV Shows (Crime/Medical Dramas): Characters often put on sterile gloves before examining evidence or performing surgery. A villain might wear gloves to avoid leaving prints. "The detective carefully picked up the evidence with a gloved hand."
Sports Broadcasts: Commentators in baseball frequently discuss a player's "glove work." Boxing matches focus heavily on the gloves and the impact of punches landed.
Video Games: Characters might equip different types of gloves for combat or protection. Some games feature mini-games involving catching items in a glove.
Music: Song lyrics sometimes use "glove" metaphorically to describe a perfect fit or protection. "Fits like a glove."
Magic Shows: Magicians often use white gloves as part of their performance attire.
General Public Discourse
Conversations: In daily speech, people commonly say, "Don't forget your gloves; it's cold," or "I need a new pair of gardening gloves." "It's important to wear gloves when handling chemicals."
Workplace (e.g., Healthcare, Construction): Discussions involve mandatory use of safety gloves or the type of gloves needed for specific tasks. "Everyone on the site must wear protective gloves."
Sports Enthusiasts: Fans discuss the quality of a baseball player's glove or the strategy of a boxer's glove movement.
Figurative Use: "Fit like a glove" (perfectly suited) or "take the gloves off" (to stop being restrained or polite) are common. "When negotiations failed, they decided to take the gloves off."
10 Quotes Using Glove
"If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit." (Johnnie Cochran)
"A velvet glove can hide an iron fist." (Common Proverb)
"The hand of fate often wears an invisible glove of circumstance."
"Sometimes, the perfect solution emerges, fitting the problem like a glove."
"To truly protect, one must learn when to wear a glove of careful caution."
"Every significant challenge requires you to put on your strongest glove of resolve."
"His kindness was so profound, it seemed he handled every situation with a silken glove."
"The champion's final punch landed perfectly, a testament to his practiced glove work."
"She found unexpected comfort in the old leather glove, a relic of past adventures."
"The meticulous work of a true artisan often demands a delicate, precise glove."
Etymology
The word "glove" comes from the Old English word "glof," which meant "a glove" or "a hand-covering." This word has roots in ancient Germanic languages, all related to coverings for the hand.
The first known use of "glove" in English, with the meaning of "a covering for the hand," dates back to before the 9th century. It appeared in texts referring directly to the garment worn on the hand, and this core meaning has remained consistent throughout its history, expanding to include specific types of gloves for sports or protection.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Glove
Fit like a glove: To fit perfectly. "The new custom-made shoes fit like a glove."
Throw down the glove: To issue a challenge. (Archaic, but the concept is known). "He threw down the glove to anyone who dared oppose him."
Take up the glove: To accept a challenge. "She immediately took up the glove when her rival challenged her."
With kid gloves: To handle or treat something with extreme care and sensitivity. "You need to handle this delicate situation with kid gloves."
Hang up one's gloves: To retire from a sport, especially boxing; to quit. "After a long career, the boxer decided to hang up his gloves."
Off the glove: (Cricket) When the ball hits the batsman's glove and is caught, resulting in an out. "The catch was clean, taken directly off the glove."
Glove compartment: A small storage area in a car, usually in the dashboard in front of the passenger seat. "He keeps his car's registration in the glove compartment."
Put the gloves on: To get ready for a fight or serious confrontation. "When negotiations failed, they decided to put the gloves on."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of glove from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
