1. a piece of clothing that you wear on your hand in order to protect it or keep it warm ⇨ mitten: a pair of gloves boxing gloves rubber/leather etc gloves 2. the gloves are off used to say that people are ready to begin a fight or argument ⇨ fit (somebody) like a glove at ↑fit1(1), ⇨ hand in glove at ↑hand1(34) • • • COLLOCATIONS verbs ▪ wear glovesAlways wear gloves when gardening. ▪ put on/pull on your glovesEleanor put on her gloves and stood up. ▪ take off your glovesMr Brownlow took off his gloves. ▪ a pair of glovesForbes pulled on a pair of black leather gloves. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + glove ▪ rubber/leather/woollen etc glovesDr McIntyre was slowly removing his rubber gloves. ▪ boxing glovesThe trainer laced up Mike's boxing gloves. ▪ a baseball gloveHe rubbed oil into his baseball glove to make it softer. ▪ surgical gloves (=special gloves worn by doctors)Surgical gloves help prevent the spread of germs. ▪ gardening glovesGardening gloves protect your hands from being scratched or stung. ▪ an oven glove BrE:Paul used the oven glove to take the hot tray out of the oven. ▪ protective glovesProtective gloves and a safety helmet are worn to minimize injury. ▪ disposable gloves (=that you throw away after use)Nurses must wear disposable gloves when handling patients. ▪ left-hand/right-hand gloveA left-hand glove was found at the scene of the crime.