dress
verb · noun
Simple meaning
To attire for a particular occasion, or in a fashionable way.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
drehsIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈdɹɛs
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
transitivespecifically
To attire (oneself or someone) for a particular (especially formal) occasion, or in a fashionable manner.
Put a finish on
transitivealso reflexive and figuratively
To put clothes (or, formerly, armour) on (oneself or someone, a doll, a mannequin, etc.); to clothe.
transitive
To design, make, provide, or select clothes (for someone).
Provide with decoration
Arrange in ranks
noun
uncountable
Apparel or clothing, especially when appropriate for a particular occasion, profession, etc.
uncountableby extension
The external covering of an animal (for example, the feathers of a bird) or an object.
uncountableby extension
The appearance of an object after it has undergone some process or treatment to fit or prepare it for use; finish.
uncountableby extension
(figuratively) The external appearance of something, especially if intended to give a positive impression; garb, guise.
uncountableby extension
(archaic, historical) The system of furrows on the face of a millstone.
countable
A rehearsal prior to a public spectacle, where all the performers are in costume, in order to test all aspects of the production by closely reproducing the actual conditions of a performance.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A1 · Beginner (estimated)
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Word Aura is being prepared for this meaning.
More ways to use dress
- “Parents must feed and dress their child.”verb
- “She dresses in the latest Paris fashion.”verb
- “She likes to dress when going to the opera.”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
Savory dressings for salads.
Furniture with drawers for keeping clothes.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A man's hat with a tall crown.
Kill and prepare for market or consumption.
A rack used primarily to display dresses for sale in a store.
A full uninterrupted rehearsal in costumes shortly before the first performance.
Decorate a ship with flags.
A man's white shirt (with a starch front) for evening wear (usually with a tuxedo).
Related words
Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.
Someone who models dresses.
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.