Library / English Dictionary

DRESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Clothing in general

Example:

fastidious about his dress

Synonyms:

apparel; clothes; dress; wearing apparel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("dress" is a kind of...):

article of clothing; clothing; habiliment; vesture; wear; wearable (a covering designed to be worn on a person's body)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dress"):

workwear (heavy-duty clothes for manual or physical work)

Derivation:

dress (dress or groom with elaborate care)

dress (put on clothes)

dress (provide with clothes or put clothes on)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion

Example:

battle dress

Synonyms:

attire; dress; garb

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("dress" is a kind of...):

article of clothing; clothing; habiliment; vesture; wear; wearable (a covering designed to be worn on a person's body)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dress"):

activewear; athletic wear; sportswear (attire worn for sport or for casual wear)

getup; outfit; rig; turnout (a set of clothing (with accessories))

morning dress (formal attire for men during the daytime)

false hair; hairpiece; postiche (a covering or bunch of human or artificial hair used for disguise or adornment)

habit; riding habit (attire that is typically worn by a horseback rider (especially a woman's attire))

habit (a distinctive attire worn by a member of a religious order)

evening clothes; evening dress; eveningwear; formalwear (attire to wear on formal occasions in the evening)

finery (elaborate or showy attire and accessories)

ecclesiastical attire; ecclesiastical robe (attire that is appropriate to wear in a church)

disguise (any attire that modifies the appearance in order to conceal the wearer's identity)

costume (the prevalent fashion of dress (including accessories and hair style as well as garments))

costume (unusual or period attire not characteristic of or appropriate to the time and place)

costume (the attire characteristic of a country or a time or a social class)

costume (the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball)

ao dai (the traditional dress of Vietnamese women consisting of a tunic with long sleeves and panels front and back; the tunic is worn over trousers)

Derivation:

dress (dress in a certain manner)

dressy (in fancy clothing)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice

Synonyms:

dress; frock

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("dress" is a kind of...):

woman's clothing (clothing that is designed for women to wear)

Meronyms (parts of "dress"):

bodice (part of a dress above the waist)

neckline (the line formed by the edge of a garment around the neck)

slide fastener; zip; zip fastener; zipper (a fastener for locking together two toothed edges by means of a sliding tab)

hemline (the line formed by the lower edge of a skirt or coat)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dress"):

sundress (a light loose sleeveless summer dress with a wide neckline and thin shoulder straps that expose the arms and shoulders)

strapless (a woman's garment that exposes the shoulders and has no shoulder straps)

shirtdress (a dress that is tailored like a shirt and has buttons all the way down the front)

saree; sari (a dress worn primarily by Hindu women; consists of several yards of light material that is draped around the body)

polonaise (a woman's dress with a tight bodice and an overskirt drawn back to reveal a colorful underskirt)

Mother Hubbard; muumuu (a woman's loose unbelted dress)

morning dress (a woman's informal dress for housework)

kirtle (a long dress worn by women)

jumper; pinafore; pinny (a sleeveless dress resembling an apron; worn over other clothing)

gown (a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions)

dirndl (a dress with a tight bodice and full skirt)

cocktail dress; sheath (a dress suitable for formal occasions)

coatdress (a dress that is tailored like a coat and buttons up the front)

chemise; sack; shift (a loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist)

caftan; kaftan (a woman's dress style that imitates the caftan cloaks worn by men in the Near East)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of an occasion) requiring formal clothes

Example:

a full-dress ceremony

Synonyms:

dress; full-dress

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

formal (being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Suitable for formal occasions

Example:

dress shoes

Synonyms:

dress; full-dress

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

formal (being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress))

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Arrange attractively

Example:

dress my hair for the wedding

Synonyms:

arrange; coif; coiffe; coiffure; do; dress; set

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

groom; neaten (care for one's external appearance)

Verb group:

curry; dress; groom (give a neat appearance to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dress"):

wave (set waves in)

bob (cut hair in the style of a bob)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They dress their hair

Sense 2

Meaning:

Dress or groom with elaborate care

Example:

She likes to dress when going to the opera

Synonyms:

dress; plume; preen; primp

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

attire; deck out; deck up; dress up; fancy up; fig out; fig up; get up; gussy up; overdress; prink; rig out; tog out; tog up; trick out; trick up (put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive)

Verb group:

dress; get dressed (put on clothes)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

dress (clothing in general)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Dress in a certain manner

Example:

he dressed up in a suit and tie

Synonyms:

dress; dress up

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

dress; get dressed (put on clothes)

Verb group:

attire; deck out; deck up; dress up; fancy up; fig out; fig up; get up; gussy up; overdress; prink; rig out; tog out; tog up; trick out; trick up (put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive)

dress; get dressed (put on clothes)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dress"):

vest (clothe oneself in ecclesiastical garments)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

dress (clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion)

dresser (a person who dresses in a particular way)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Give a neat appearance to

Example:

dress the horses

Synonyms:

curry; dress; groom

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

beautify; embellish; fancify; prettify (make more beautiful)

Verb group:

arrange; coif; coiffe; coiffure; do; dress; set (arrange attractively)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They dress the animals

Sense 5

Meaning:

Put on clothes

Example:

Can the child dress by herself?

Synonyms:

dress; get dressed

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Verb group:

dress; plume; preen; primp (dress or groom with elaborate care)

dress; dress up (dress in a certain manner)

apparel; clothe; dress; enclothe; fit out; garb; garment; habilitate; raiment; tog (provide with clothes or put clothes on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dress"):

change (change clothes; put on different clothes)

dandify (dress like a dandy)

cross-dress (dress in the clothes of the other sex)

assume; don; get into; put on; wear (put clothing on one's body)

bundle up (dress warmly)

prink (dress very carefully and in a finicky manner)

dress down; underdress (dress informally and casually)

dress; dress up (dress in a certain manner)

attire; deck out; deck up; dress up; fancy up; fig out; fig up; get up; gussy up; overdress; prink; rig out; tog out; tog up; trick out; trick up (put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

They dress

They dress themselves

Antonym:

undress (get undressed)

Also:

dress down (dress informally and casually)

dress up (put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive)

Derivation:

dressing (the activity of getting dressed; putting on clothes)

dresser (a wardrobe assistant for an actor)

dress (clothing in general)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Provide with clothes or put clothes on

Example:

Parents must feed and dress their child

Synonyms:

apparel; clothe; dress; enclothe; fit out; garb; garment; habilitate; raiment; tog

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Verb group:

dress; get dressed (put on clothes)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dress"):

gown (dress in a gown)

robe; vest (clothe formally; especially in ecclesiastical robes)

costume; dress up (dress in a costume)

coat (cover or provide with a coat)

shoe (furnish with shoes)

corset (dress with a corset)

underdress (dress without sufficient warmth)

overclothe; overdress (dress too warmly)

vesture (provide or cover with a cloak)

habit (put a habit on)

shirt (put a shirt on)

frock (put a frock on)

jacket (put a jacket on)

cover; wrap up (clothe, as if for protection from the elements)

prim; prim out; prim up (dress primly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

undress (get undressed)

Derivation:

dress (clothing in general)

dresser (a wardrobe assistant for an actor)

dressing (the activity of getting dressed; putting on clothes)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Apply a bandage or medication to

Example:

dress the victim's wounds

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

care for; treat (provide treatment for)

Domain category:

medicine; practice of medicine (the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dress"):

plaster; poultice (dress by covering with a therapeutic substance)

bandage (dress by covering or binding)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Did he dress his foot?

Derivation:

dressing (the act of applying a bandage)

dressing (a cloth covering for a wound or sore)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Convert into leather

Example:

dress the tanned skins

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

convert (change the nature, purpose, or function of something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

dressing (processes in the conversion of rough hides into leather)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Kill and prepare for market or consumption

Example:

dress a turkey

Synonyms:

dress; dress out

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

cook; fix; make; prepare; ready (prepare for eating by applying heat)

"Dress" entails doing...:

kill (cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly)

Verb group:

dress (put a dressing on)

dress; garnish; trim (decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

dressing (a mixture of seasoned ingredients used to stuff meats and vegetables)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Cut down rough-hewn (lumber) to standard thickness and width

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

pare; trim (remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 11

Meaning:

Put a finish on

Example:

dress the surface smooth

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

finish (provide with a finish)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 12

Meaning:

Cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of

Example:

dress the plants in the garden

Synonyms:

clip; crop; cut back; dress; lop; prune; snip; trim

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

thin out (make sparse)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dress"):

shear (cut with shears)

poll; pollard (convert into a pollard)

pinch; top (cut the top off)

disbud (thin out buds to improve the quality of the remaining flowers)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 13

Meaning:

Put a dressing on

Example:

dress the salads

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

apply; put on (apply to a surface)

Verb group:

dress; dress out (kill and prepare for market or consumption)

dress; garnish; trim (decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods)

Domain category:

cookery; cooking; preparation (the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The chefs dress the vegetables

Derivation:

dressing (savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type)

Sense 14

Meaning:

Provide with decoration

Example:

dress the windows

Synonyms:

decorate; dress

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

arrange; set up (put into a proper or systematic order)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 15

Meaning:

Decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods

Synonyms:

dress; garnish; trim

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)

Verb group:

dress; dress out (kill and prepare for market or consumption)

dress (put a dressing on)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

The chefs dress the vegetables

Sense 16

Meaning:

Arrange in ranks

Example:

dress troops

Synonyms:

dress; line up

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "dress" is one way to...):

position (cause to be in an appropriate place, state, or relation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Credits

 Context examples: 

No one said a word about it, but Sallie offered to dress her hair, and Annie to tie her sash, and Belle, the engaged sister, praised her white arms.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She screamed with fright as he seized her dress in his teeth and dragged on it till the frail fabric tore away.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“Will you please dress as warmly as you can, at once, and make into a bundle whatever you wish to bring with you.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Bring in wine while the food is dressing.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Have you the cab below? I will follow you when I am dressed, for I may be of some use at the station.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

All the time he lived with us the captain made no change whatever in his dress but to buy some stockings from a hawker.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I constructed another sail with a part of my dress and eagerly steered my course towards the land.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

He was small and very plainly dressed and the look of him, even at that distance, went somehow strongly against the watcher’s inclination.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Leave ’im to me if you want to see ’ow a calf’s ’ead should be dressed.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She next opened her nutshell, and brought out of it the dress that shone like the sun, and so went to the feast.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)