sheathe

verb \ ˈshēṯẖ \

variants: or less commonly sheath play \ˈshēth\

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of sheathe

sheathed; sheathing

transitive verb

1 :to put into or furnish with a sheath

2 :to plunge or bury (a weapon, such as a sword) in flesh

3 :to withdraw (a claw) into a sheath

4 :to case or cover with something (such as sheets of metal) that protects

—

sheather

play \ˈshē-ṯẖər, -thər\ noun

See sheathe defined for English-language learners

See sheathe defined for kids

Examples of sheathe in a Sentence

sometimes shipbuilders sheathe a ship's bottom with copper for extra protection from barnacles and other threats

Recent Examples of sheathe from the Web

Two of the GIs hauling the boat downstream are shirtless, their bayonets sheathed at their belts.

— michael e. ruane, Washington Post, "Howard Brodie sketched the misery of Guadalcanal before his fame as a courtroom artist," 7 Aug. 2017
Residents will have access to a rooftop clubhouse with a spa overlooking downtown at the corner of Park and F (and sheathed in metal to resemble a water tower).

— roger showley, sandiegouniontribune.com, "IDEA1: Full of ideas for mixed-use success," 16 July 2017
Sheathed in silvery glass, with alternating stacks of balconies accentuating its sculptural identity, the tower promises to work as both a stand-alone object and a part of the cityscape.

— blair kamin, chicagotribune.com, "Lakeshore East towers would make a skyline splash but at ground level, let the buyer beware," 13 July 2017
Two centuries ago, almost every roof in the parish was sheathed in wood shingles or shakes.

— lindsay bierman, Southern Living, "The New Must-Have Coffee Table Book: New Roads and Old Rivers," 11 July 2017
There was a time when a travel pillow meant an inflatable donut sheathed in scratchy plastic.

— chaney kwak, CNT, "4 Travel Pillows You'll Actually Want to Buy," 30 June 2017
Unlike a curtain-wall tower sheathed entirely in glass, with floor-to-ceiling windows, Viñoly’s design gives you a ready sense of the massive structure that is holding you aloft.

— christopher hawthorne, latimes.com, "How New York's rising trend of 'supertall' towers looks from the 92nd floor," 15 June 2017
His colleagues, meanwhile, have reportedly sheathed their daggers, having determined that Priebus is essentially harmless.

— tina nguyen, The Hive, "No Exit: Reince Priebus Muddles Through His Own Personal Hell," 5 June 2017
The building, sheathed in golden glass, will get a new lobby with Italian marble, updated corridors, new bathrooms, new lighting and new landscaping.

— ely portillo, charlotteobserver, "Well-known SouthPark office buildings are getting a major facelift," 2 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of sheathe

Middle English shethen, from shethe sheath

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First Known Use: 15th century

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sheathe Synonyms

Synonyms

clad, face

Related Words

apparel, array, clothe, dress, garb, robe; side, skin; embosom, embower, embrace, encase, enclose (also inclose), encompass, enshroud, envelop, enwrap, invest, lap, mantle, shroud, surround, swathe, veil, wrap; blanket, overlay, overspread

Near Antonyms

bare, denude, expose, strip; unswathe

SHEATHE Defined for English Language Learners

sheathe

verb

Definition of sheathe for English Language Learners

: to put (something, such as a sword) into a sheath
: to cover (something) with something that protects it

SHEATHE Defined for Kids

sheathe

verb \ ˈshēt͟h \

Definition of sheathe for Students

sheathed; sheathing

1 :to put into a sheath

Sheathe your sword.

2 :to cover with something that protects

The ship's bottom is sheathed with copper.

Learn More about sheathe

See words that rhyme with sheathe Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sheathe Spanish Central: Translation of sheathe Nglish: Translation of sheathe for Spanish speakers

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Definition of sheathe

sheather

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Examples of sheathe in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of sheathe

sheathe Synonyms

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SHEATHE Defined for English Language Learners

sheathe

Definition of sheathe for English Language Learners

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sheathe

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