glove

noun \ ˈgləv \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Definition of glove

1 a : a covering for the hand having separate sections for each of the fingers and the thumb and often extending part way up the arm

b : ¹gauntlet 1

2 a (1) : a padded leather covering for the hand used in baseball to catch a thrown or batted ball; specifically : one having individual thumb and finger sections usually connected with a lacing or webbing — compare mitt

(2) : fielding ability

he's got a good glove at three positions and can pinch-hit
—Casey Stengel

b : boxing glove

3 a : ¹gauntlet 3

b gloves plural : the restraints of civility

the gloves came off for the interview

See glove defined for English-language learners

See glove defined for kids

Recent Examples of glove from the Web

Pliance, Science Alert’s Michelle Starr explains, is worn like a glove and allows researchers to determine the amount of pressure exerted on each finger during various activities.

— meilan solly, Smithsonian, "Did the Human Hand Evolve as a Lean Mean Bone-Smashing Machine?," 13 July 2018
So, Bowditch had to offer leftover gloves and golf balls as payment.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "Pro golfer recruits a Twitter follower to caddie for him in upcoming PGA event," 10 July 2018
One man was wearing an Ohio State Buckeyes hoodie with gray pants, red gloves and black and red shoes.

— raisa habersham, ajc, "Masked men assault adult entertainment store employees, cops say," 9 July 2018
Javier Baez was picked off first base but Hicks’ throw to get him at second base ricocheted off Niko Goodrum’s glove and into left field.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers squander another game vs. Chicago Cubs, lose 5-2," 4 July 2018
Even outdoors, coming anywhere near the stuff requires nitrile gloves and a P100-rated respirator fitted with organic vapor filters.

— lee hutchinson, Ars Technica, "The Internet-demanded, partially scientific testing of Ultra-Ever Dry (in HD!)," 4 July 2018
Never give a hat or socks—though, strangely, men like gloves and scarves.

— a.a. gill, A-LIST, "Fraught, But It Counts," 4 July 2018
At the time of her death, Mirack was dressed up to go outside, wearing gloves and a coat, authorities said.

— jared gilmour, miamiherald, "Teacher was raped and murdered in 1992. Gum left at a school just caught the killer, Pa. cops say," 27 June 2018
Time to dig out that sequined glove and brush up on those old moonwalk moves.

— david rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "Michael Jackson Musical in the Works for Broadway," 19 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'glove.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of glove

Middle English, from Old English glōf; akin to Old Norse glōfi glove

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

glove

verb

Definition of glove

gloved; gloving

transitive verb

1 a : to cover with or as if with a glove

b : to furnish with gloves

2 : to catch (something, such as a baseball) in one's gloved hand

Recent Examples of glove from the Web

All’s well that ends well, as Shakespeare wrote, and because Monday night ended well for the Phillies, catcher Andrew Knapp was spared the indignity of costing his team by failing to glove the final out in the ninth inning.

— scott lauber, Philly.com, "Phillies starter Nick Pivetta gives Cardinals a glimpse of his improvement | Extra Innings," 19 June 2018
The Aztecs nearly got out of the inning with a double-play, but Verdon couldn’t glove a low throw from third baseman Casey Schmitt for the third out.

— kirk kenney, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Aztecs steamroll UNLV to win Mountain West tournament title," 26 May 2018
The Tigers' Nick Goodrum tried to glove it but smacked it to the ground.

— maria torres, kansascity, "Royals snap nine-game losing streak | The Kansas City Star," 20 Apr. 2018
Bruce Maxwell paused off second base to see if Carlos Correa would glove a hard grounder.

— hunter atkins, Houston Chronicle, "George Springer's RBIs help secure Astros' victory over A's," 9 May 2018
Third baseman Maikel Franco couldn’t glove a chopper by Rodriguez, who scored two batters later when Starling Marte’s pop fly fell between center fielder Odubel Herrera and backpedaling second baseman Cesar Hernandez.

— scott lauber, Philly.com, "Aaron Nola, Rhys Hoskins lift Phillies over Pirates again," 21 Apr. 2018
Belt ranged well off the first-base bag to glove it, then spun and looked to first – and saw no one.

— azcentral, "Missed chances add up as Diamondbacks fall to Giants," 19 Apr. 2018
Sophomore shortstop Sebastian Murillo went to his knees to glove it.

— andrew turner, latimes.com, "Fountain Valley baseball cannot solve Will Laws in loss to Los Alamitos," 12 Apr. 2018
This was a time when people were terrified to touch people with HIV, people would glove, mask and gown up in regular hospitals.

— simon perry, PEOPLE.com, "Prince Harry Shares How His Mom Princess Diana, at ‘Only 25 Years Old,’ Fought Homophobia," 12 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of glove

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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GLOVE Defined for English Language Learners

glove

noun

Definition of glove for English Language Learners

: a covering for the hand that has separate parts for each finger
baseball : a padded leather covering for the hand that is used to catch the ball and that has individual thumb and finger sections
: a very thick, padded covering for the hand that is worn in the sport of boxing