Definition of sheath
sheaths
play \ˈshēthz, ˈshēths\1 : a case for a blade (as of a knife)
2 : an investing cover or case of a plant or animal body or body part: such asa : the tubular fold of skin into which the penis of many mammals is retractedb (1) : the lower part of a leaf when surrounding the stem (2) : an ensheathing spathe
3 : any of various covering or supporting structures that resemble in appearance or function the sheath of a blade: such asa : sheathing 2b : a woman's close-fitting dress that is usually worn without a beltc British : condom 1
From the M-W Editors
Examples of sheath in a Sentence
the sheath of a sword
a piece of wire covered with a plastic sheath
Recent Examples of sheath from the Web
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Harvey told the church, dabbing tears from her eyes, wearing a simple sheath instead of a wedding dress.
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Bloomberg compiled pricing data from the her brand, and compared it with those of other labels known for work-wear, using three office essentials as illustrations: pumps, tote bags, and sheath dresses.
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The mayor tugged on the sheath on Tuesday morning, unveiling the green sign bearing the name of the muckraking journalist who died in March.
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Team doctors said the sheath around the tendons ruptured.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sheath'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of sheath
Middle English shethe, from Old English scēath; akin to Old High German sceida sheath and perhaps to Latin scindere to split — more at shed
First Known Use: before 12th century
Other Clothing Terms
SHEATH Defined for English Language Learners
sheath
playDefinition of sheath for English Language Learners
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: a cover for the blade of a knife, sword, etc.
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: a protective covering
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: a close-fitting dress that does not usually have a belt
SHEATH Defined for Kids
sheath
playDefinition of sheath for Students
sheaths
\ˈshēthz\1 : a case for a blade (as of a knife)
2 : a covering that surrounds and usually protects something
Medical Dictionary
sheath
playMedical Definition of sheath
sheaths
\ˈshēthz, ˈshēths\play play1: an investing cover or case of a plant or animal body or body part: asa: the tubular fold of skin into which the penis of many mammals is retractedb: the connective tissue of an organ or part that binds together its component elements and holds it in place
2: condom 1
sheathed
adjectiveLearn More about sheath
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See words that rhyme with sheath Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sheath Spanish Central: Translation of sheath Nglish: Translation of sheath for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sheath for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sheath
Seen and Heard
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