WordGarden.iodress
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /drˈɛs/
US
- /ˈdrɛs/
Meanings
Noun
a one-piece garment worn on the body
Verb
to put clothes on oneself or someone else
to decorate or arrange something attractively
to add dressing, sauce, or seasoning to food
More meaningsFewer meanings
to clean and cover a wound
Adjective
intended for formal or smart clothing occasions
Beyond the definition
"Dress" may look like a simple word, but it does several jobs in English. Most often, it is a noun for a one-piece item of clothing often worn by women or girls. It is also very common as a verb meaning to put clothes on yourself or someone else. You can dress for work, dress a child, or dress for cold weather. The word also appears in a few other common settings. You can dress a salad by adding oil or sauce, and a nurse can dress a wound by cleaning it and covering it. In all of these uses, the idea is about clothing, covering, or getting something ready.
The word "dress" is surprisingly versatile, extending far beyond the world of fashion. While its most common noun form refers to a specific garment—like a breezy summer dress or a formal ball gown—it also serves as a general term for attire, such as in the phrase "evening dress." As a verb, "to dress" primarily means to put on clothes: "She dressed quickly for the morning meeting."
Beyond the closet, the word's reach extends to preparation and care. In the kitchen, we dress a salad with vinaigrette or dress a turkey for roasting. In a medical context, to dress a wound means to clean and cover it with bandages. Historically, the word implied the act of arranging or adorning something elaborately. You might "dress" a stage set for a play or a storefront window to attract customers. Even Shakespeare used the term metaphorically, suggesting we "dress the soul" by cultivating virtues.
Modern English also gives us the "dress code," which dictates acceptable attire for a specific setting, and phrases like "dressing down" for wearing casual clothes. Whether you're choosing an outfit for the day, preparing a meal, or treating an injury, "dress" encompasses the essential acts of covering, adorning, and preparing.
Examples
- 1
Clothing item
She wore a simple blue dress to the party.
- 2
Shopping
The shop sells dresses for work and special occasions.
- 3
Baby care
She dressed the baby after his bath.
- 4
Children
The kids are old enough to dress themselves now.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Getting ready
I got dressed quickly and went downstairs.
- 6
Work clothes
He usually dresses casually for work.
- 7
Costume
He dressed as a pirate for Halloween.
- Patterndress as + person/character
wear clothes to look like that person or character
- 8
Ceremony clothing
Everyone was dressed in white for the ceremony.
- Patterndressed in + clothing/color
wearing that clothing or color
- 9
Formal clothes
You don't need to dress up for this restaurant.
- Phrasedress up
wear more formal or special clothes
- 10
Medical care
The nurse cleaned and dressed the wound.
- Patterndress a wound
clean it and cover it
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- dressnounverbadjective
Forms
- dressedpast tenseverbnounadjective
- dressing-ing formverbnounadjective
- dressespluralnounverbadjective