A glove is a covering for your hand, usually made from fabric, leather, or rubber, with separate sections for each finger and the thumb. People wear gloves for different reasons: to keep hands warm in winter, to protect them during work or sports, or to keep things clean and safe.

Baseball players wear leather gloves to catch hard-hit balls without hurting their hands. A catcher's mitt is thick and padded, while an outfielder's glove is shaped differently for snagging fly balls. Surgeons and dentists wear thin rubber gloves to prevent germs from spreading. Winter gloves trap warm air around your fingers so you can build snowmen without your hands going numb.

The phrase fits like a glove means something fits perfectly, as if it were custom-made. When detectives find evidence at a crime scene, they handle it with gloves so they don't leave fingerprints behind. Hockey goalies wear massive padded gloves to block speeding pucks, while gardeners wear thick gloves to protect against thorns.

Mittens are similar to gloves but keep all four fingers together in one compartment, making them warmer but less nimble. Whether you're catching a baseball, examining evidence, or just staying warm, gloves give your hands protection while still letting them do their work.