a. & adv. [ Pref. a- + sleep. ] 1. In a state of sleep; in sleep; dormant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fast asleep the giant lay supine. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

By whispering winds soon lulled asleep. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In the sleep of the grave; dead. [ 1913 Webster ]

Concerning them which are asleep . . . sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thess. iv. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Numbed, and, usually, tingling. Udall. [ 1913 Webster ]

Leaning long upon any part maketh it numb, and, as we call it, asleep. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

A wide sleeve, once worn by women. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Pretended sleep. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) The fitful naps taken when all hands are kept up by stress. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The sleeve below the elbow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To exceed in sleeping. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To sleep beyond; as, to oversleep one's self or one's usual hour of rising. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To sleep too long. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Costume) A funnel-shaped sleeve arranged to show the sleeve lining and an inner sleeve. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A sleeve joined to the body of a garment by a long slanting seam starting at the neck and continuing around the armhole. Contrasted to a set-in sleeve. [ PJC ]

n. A sleeve joined to the body of a garment by a seam starting at the edge of the shoulder and continuing around the armhole. Contrasted to a raglan sleeve. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ See Slay. ] To slay. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sleeked p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeking. ] To make even and smooth; to render smooth, soft, and glossy; to smooth over. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sleeking her soft alluring locks. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gentle, my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Sleeker superl. Sleekest. ] [ OE. slik; akin to Icel. slīkr, and OE. sliken to glide, slide, G. schleichen, OHG. slīhhan, D. slik, slijk, mud, slime, and E. slink. Cf. Slick, Slink. ] 1. Having an even, smooth surface; smooth; hence, glossy; as, sleek hair. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

So sleek her skin, so faultless was her make. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not rough or harsh. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With ease and dexterity. [ Low ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which makes smooth; varnish. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A slick. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. In a sleek manner; smoothly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being sleek; smoothness and glossiness of surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of a sleek, or smooth, and glossy appearance. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fawning and deceitful; sly. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

obs. imp. of Sleep. Slept. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Slept p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeping. ] [ OE. slepen, AS. sl&unr_;pan; akin to OFries. sl&unr_;pa, OS. slāpan, D. slapen, OHG. slāfan, G. schlafen, Goth. sl&unr_;pan, and G. schlaff slack, loose, and L. labi to glide, slide, labare to totter. Cf. Lapse. ] 1. To take rest by a suspension of the voluntary exercise of the powers of the body and mind, and an apathy of the organs of sense; to slumber. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Watching at the head of these that sleep. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Figuratively: (a) To be careless, inattentive, or uncouncerned; not to be vigilant; to live thoughtlessly. [ 1913 Webster ]

We sleep over our happiness. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To be dead; to lie in the grave. [ 1913 Webster ]

Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1 Thess. iv. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) To be, or appear to be, in repose; to be quiet; to be unemployed, unused, or unagitated; to rest; to lie dormant; as, a question sleeps for the present; the law sleeps. [ 1913 Webster ]

How sweet the moonlight sleep upon this bank! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To be slumbering in; -- followed by a cognate object; as, to sleep a dreamless sleep. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give sleep to; to furnish with accomodations for sleeping; to lodge. [ R. ] Blackw. Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

To sleep away, to spend in sleep; as, to sleep away precious time. --
To sleep off, to become free from by sleep; as, to sleep off drunkeness or fatigue. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. sl&aemacr_;p; akin to OFries. slēp, OS. slāp, D. slaap, OHG. slāf, G. schlaf, Goth. slēps. See Sleep, v. i. ] A natural and healthy, but temporary and periodical, suspension of the functions of the organs of sense, as well as of those of the voluntary and rational soul; that state of the animal in which there is a lessened acuteness of sensory perception, a confusion of ideas, and a loss of mental control, followed by a more or less unconscious state. “A man that waketh of his sleep.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

O sleep, thou ape of death. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Sleep is attended by a relaxation of the muscles, and the absence of voluntary activity for any rational objects or purpose. The pulse is slower, the respiratory movements fewer in number but more profound, and there is less blood in the cerebral vessels. It is susceptible of greater or less intensity or completeness in its control of the powers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sleep of plants (Bot.), a state of plants, usually at night, when their leaflets approach each other, and the flowers close and droop, or are covered by the folded leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Slumber; repose; rest; nap; doze; drowse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A plant (Tragopogon pratensis) which closes its flowers at midday; a kind of goat's beard. Dr. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Heavy with sleep. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who sleeps; a slumberer; hence, a drone, or lazy person. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which lies dormant, as a law. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A sleeping car. [ Colloq. U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) An animal that hibernates, as the bear. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Zool.) (a) A large fresh-water gobioid fish (Eleotris dormatrix). (b) A nurse shark. See under Nurse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Norw. sleip a sleeper (a timber), as adj., slippery, smooth. See Slape. ] Something lying in a reclining posture or position. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) One of the pieces of timber, stone, or iron, on or near the level of the ground, for the support of some superstructure, to steady framework, to keep in place the rails of a railway, etc.; a stringpiece. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) One of the joists, or roughly shaped timbers, laid directly upon the ground, to receive the flooring of the ground story. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) (Naut.) One of the knees which connect the transoms to the after timbers on the ship's quarter. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) (Naut.) The lowest, or bottom, tier of casks. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Strongly inclined to sleep; very sleepy. -- Sleep"ful*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

adv. In a sleepy manner; drowsily. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being sleepy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. from Sleep. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sleeping car, a railway car or carrriage, arranged with apartments and berths for sleeping. --
Sleeping partner (Com.), a dormant partner. See under Dormant. --
Sleeping table (Mining), a stationary inclined platform on which pulverized ore is washed; a kind of buddle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Disposed to sleep; sleepy; drowsy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your sleepish, and more than sleepish, security. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having no sleep; wakeful. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having no rest; perpetually agitated. “Biscay's sleepless bay.” Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Sleep"less*ly, adv. -- Sleep"less*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See 1st Hag, 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. On in a state of magnetic or mesmeric sleep. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of one mesmerized, or in a partial and morbid sleep. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who walks in his sleep; a somnambulist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Walking in one's sleep. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Sleepier superl. Sleepiest. ] [ AS. sl&unr_;pig. See Sleep, n. ] 1. Drowsy; inclined to, or overcome by, sleep. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

She waked her sleepy crew. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Tending to induce sleep; soporiferous; somniferous; as, a sleepy drink or potion. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Dull; lazy; heavy; sluggish. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

'Tis not sleepy business;
But must be looked to speedily and strongly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Characterized by an absence of watchfulness; as, sleepy security. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sleepy duck (Zool.), the ruddy duck. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A sleepy person. [ 1913 Webster ]

To bed, to bed, says Sleepyhead. Mother Goose. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The ruddy duck. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A slayer. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gun.) The part of a mortar extending from the chamber to the trunnions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. sleet; akin to MHG. sl&unr_;z, sl&unr_;ze hailstone, G. schlosse; of uncertain origin. ] Hail or snow, mingled with rain, usually falling, or driven by the wind, in fine particles. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Sleeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeting. ] To snow or hail with a mixture of rain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Slush, Slutch. ] Mud or slime, such as that at the bottom of rivers. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being sleety. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to sleet; characterized by sleet; as, a sleety storm; sleety weather. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sleeved p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeving. ] To furnish with sleeves; to put sleeves into; as, to sleeve a coat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Sleave, untwisted thread. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. sleeve, sleve, AS. sl&unr_;fe, sl&unr_;fe; akin to sl&unr_;fan to put on, to clothe; cf. OD. sloove the turning up of anything, sloven to turn up one's sleeves, sleve a sleeve, G. schlaube a husk, pod. ] 1. The part of a garment which covers the arm; as, the sleeve of a coat or a gown. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A narrow channel of water. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The Celtic Sea, called oftentimes the Sleeve. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mach.) (a) A tubular part made to cover, sustain, or steady another part, or to form a connection between two parts. (b) A long bushing or thimble, as in the nave of a wheel. (c) A short piece of pipe used for covering a joint, or forming a joint between the ends of two other pipes. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Elec.) A double tube of copper, in section like the figure 8, into which the ends of bare wires are pushed so that when the tube is twisted an electrical connection is made. The joint thus made is called
a McIntire joint. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Sleeve button, a detachable button to fasten the wristband or cuff. --
Sleeve links, two bars or buttons linked together, and used to fasten a cuff or wristband. --
To laugh in the sleeve or
To laugh up one's sleeve to laugh privately or unperceived, especially while apparently preserving a grave or serious demeanor toward the person or persons laughed at; that is, perhaps, originally, by hiding the face in the wide sleeves of former times. --
To pinon the sleeve of, or
To hang on the sleeve of, to be, or make, dependent upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having sleeves; furnished with sleeves; -- often in composition; as, long-sleeved. [ 1913 Webster ]