fleece
fleece — noun
1. The thick, soft wool coat that grows on animals like sheep and other wool-bearin
The thick, soft wool coat that grows on animals like sheep and other wool-bearing creatures, whether still on the body or cut off during shearing.
The farmer carefully washed the fleece after shearing the sheep.
collocation: wash / shear a fleece
Meera patted the lamb's soft white fleece as it rested in the barn.
A single sheep's fleece can produce enough wool for several jumpers.
The shepherd checked each animal's fleece for signs of disease.
Rachid's grandmother spun the clean fleece into yarn on her spinning wheel.
文法句型
a fleece (the wool of one sheep)
fleece (the material)
用法筆記
This sense can describe the wool while still on the living animal ("the sheep's fleece") or after it has been cut off in one piece. Compare with sense 2 (SYNTHETIC FABRIC), which describes an artificial material.
2. A soft, warm artificial fabric, typically made from polyester, with a thick fluf
A soft, warm artificial fabric, typically made from polyester, with a thick fluffy surface that resembles wool and is widely used to produce warm jackets, blankets, and other clothing items.
Jisoo wore a warm jacket made of fleece on the cold morning walk.
collocation: made of fleece
The inside of the sleeping bag was lined with soft fleece.
Fleece is a popular choice for sportswear because it dries quickly.
The children's blankets were all made from thick, colourful fleece.
Owen bought a fleece scarf that felt as soft as wool but cost much less.
- polar fleece
more specific brand-origin term for the same synthetic fabric
- microfleece
thinner, lighter version of the same material
文法句型
made of fleece
fleece [noun] (as modifier)
用法筆記
As an uncountable noun, this sense refers to the material itself, not a garment. To refer to a jacket made from this fabric, use sense 3 (WARM JACKET).
常見錯誤
3. A jacket or top made from soft synthetic fleece fabric, worn as an outer layer i
A jacket or top made from soft synthetic fleece fabric, worn as an outer layer in cool weather for warmth.
Adina zipped up her fleece before stepping out into the autumn air.
collocation: zip up a fleece
Every hiker on the trip packed a lightweight fleece for the mountain trail.
His school fleece had the logo of the football team on the chest.
Nia pulled on a blue fleece over her T-shirt when the temperature dropped.
The outdoor shop sells fleeces in a range of colours and sizes.
- fleece jacket
explicit compound; less ambiguous in writing
- fleece top
softer term for a fleece that is not a full jacket
文法句型
a fleece
fleece (plural: fleeces)
用法筆記
Countable noun — 'a fleece' / 'fleeces'. This is the most common everyday use of 'fleece' as a noun in British and American English. The garment is typically worn as a mid-layer or light outer layer.
4. A thin, light man-made sheet that gardeners put over plants to shield them from
A thin, light man-made sheet that gardeners put over plants to shield them from cold weather, wind, or insects while allowing sunlight to reach them.
The gardener covered the young plants with fleece before the first frost.
collocation: cover plants with fleece
Élise pinned fleece over the vegetable patch to keep the carrots warm.
Horticultural fleece allows sunlight through while protecting young plants from cold.
The nursery sells rolls of fleece for gardeners who grow early crops.
- row cover
more common in American English for the same gardening material
- frost cloth
alternative term focused on frost protection
文法句型
garden fleece
fleece [noun] (as modifier)
用法筆記
Most common in British gardening contexts. In American English, 'row cover' or 'frost cloth' is more widely used for the same product.
fleece — verb
1. To cheat someone or charge them far too much money for something, often by using
To cheat someone or charge them far too much money for something, often by using lies or dishonest methods to get their money.
The taxi driver tried to fleece the tourists by charging double the normal fare.
transitive pattern: fleece + someone by [method]
Mert felt he had been fleeced after paying so much for a broken watch.
passive: get fleeced
The online shop fleeced hundreds of customers by never delivering their orders.
Rachid warned his friends that the stall owner would fleece them.
Dylan discovered the repair company had fleeced him for simple work that cost very little.
- swindle
more formal and suggests a planned fraud
- rip off
equally informal; interchangeable in most contexts
- overcharge
milder — may not imply dishonesty, just a high price
文法句型
fleece + someone
fleece + someone + out of + amount
get fleeced (passive)
用法筆記
The person cheated is always the direct object ('fleece someone'), not the money. The price or amount can be introduced with 'out of' or 'for' ('fleeced me out of £50'). Passive form 'get fleeced' is very common in informal speech.
常見錯誤
2. To cut the wool off a sheep or similar animal as part of the farming process, re
To cut the wool off a sheep or similar animal as part of the farming process, removing the fleece in one piece or in large sections.
The farmer spent the afternoon learning how to fleece a sheep properly.
pattern: fleece + [animal]
The ranch owner hired extra workers to help fleece the flock before summer.
Paloma watched as the shearer expertly fleeced each animal in turn.
It takes skill and practice to fleece a sheep without causing it any harm.
文法句型
fleece + animal (sheep, llama, etc.)
用法筆記
A specialised farming term. In everyday English, 'shear' is far more common for this action. 'Fleece' as a verb in this sense is mostly used among people who work with sheep.