an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
"The antique armchair was upholstered in rich brown leather that felt surprisingly soft to the touch."
A tough material produced from the skin of animals, by tanning or similar process, used e.g. for clothing.
"She reached into her bag and pulled out a new leather wallet that felt surprisingly soft despite being made from animal hide."
In plain English: Leather is a strong material made from animal skin that is often used to make jackets, shoes, and bags.
"He wore a new leather jacket to the concert."
Usage: Leather refers to durable material made from treated animal hide, commonly used for items like shoes and jackets. Do not confuse it with vinyl or synthetic alternatives unless specifically describing genuine animal skin products.
To cover with leather.
"The artisan carefully stitched a new seat cushion to cover the worn-out vinyl on his grandfather's car."
In plain English: To leather something means to hit it very hard with a heavy object like a bat or a club.
"The mechanic had to leather the old hide before he could sell it at auction."
Usage: Leather is rarely used as a verb in modern English because it sounds archaic and awkward compared to synonyms like "upholster." You should generally avoid using it unless you are writing historical fiction or trying to sound deliberately old-fashioned.
Made of leather.
"The new motorcycle jacket is made of tough, genuine leather."
In plain English: Leather describes something made from animal skin that has been treated to be tough and durable.
"The leather sofa was very comfortable to sit on."
Usage: The adjective "leather" describes an item constructed from animal hide, such as a leather jacket or leather boots. It is used directly before the noun to specify the material without needing the word "made of."
A surname.
"The new team captain, Mr. Leather, gave a passionate speech at the meeting."
The word leather comes from Old English and has remained in use with the same meaning since then. It likely traveled into English through Proto-West Germanic, possibly borrowing from a Proto-Celtic root related to skin or hide.