dresses

noun

(countable) (clothing) An item of clothing (usually worn by a woman or young girl) which both covers the upper part of the body and includes a skirt below the waist.

(countable) (by extension, India) Clothing or outfit in general.

(uncountable) Apparel or clothing, especially when appropriate for a particular occasion, profession, etc.

(uncountable) (by extension) The external covering of an animal (for example, the feathers of a bird) or an object.

(uncountable) (by extension) The appearance of an object after it has undergone some process or treatment to fit or prepare it for use; finish.

(uncountable) (by extension) (figuratively) The external appearance of something, especially if intended to give a positive impression; garb, guise.

(countable) (archaic outside of India) An item of outer clothing or set of such clothes (worn by people of all sexes) which is generally decorative and appropriate for a particular occasion, profession, etc.

(uncountable) (archaic) The act of putting on clothes, especially fashionable ones, or for a particular (especially formal) occasion.

(uncountable) (by extension) (archaic, historical) The system of furrows on the face of a millstone.

(uncountable) (obsolete) The act of applying a dressing to or otherwise treating a wound; also, the dressing so applied.

(countable) (film, television, theater) Ellipsis of dress rehearsal. [(theater) 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.]

(medicine) acronym of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms or drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms.

verb

(transitive) (also reflexive and figuratively) To put clothes (or, formerly, armour) on (oneself or someone, a doll, a mannequin, etc.); to clothe.

(transitive) (specifically) To attire (oneself or someone) for a particular (especially formal) occasion, or in a fashionable manner.

(transitive) To design, make, provide, or select clothes (for someone).

(transitive) To arrange or style (someone's hair).

(transitive) (also figuratively) To adorn or ornament (something).

(transitive) To arrange a display of goods in, or to decorate (a shop or shop window).

(transitive) (nautical) To ornament (a ship) by hoisting the national colours at the peak and mastheads, and setting the jack forward; when "dressed full", the signal flags and pennants are added.

(transitive) To fit or prepare (something) for use; to render (something) suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready.

(transitive) To prepare, treat, or curry (animal hide or leather).

(transitive) (especially of ores) To prepare by any of many types of physical processing (e.g., breaking, crushing, sorting, sieving, controlled burning or heating).

(transitive) To prepare the surface of (a material, such as lumber or stone; a grindstone or grinding wheel).

(transitive) (fishing) To prepare (an artificial fly) to be attached to a fish hook.

(transitive) (agriculture, horticulture) To cultivate or tend to (a garden, land, plants, etc.); especially, to add fertilizer or manure to (soil); to fertilize, to manure.

(transitive) (butchering) To cut up (an animal or its flesh) for food.

(transitive) (cooking) To prepare (food) for cooking or eating, especially by seasoning it; specifically, to add a dressing or sauce (to food, especially a salad).

(transitive) (film, television, theater) To design, make, or prepare costumes (for a play or other performance); also, to present (a production) in a particular costume style.

(transitive) (film, television, theater) To prepare (a set) by installing the props, scenery, etc.

(transitive) (military) To arrange (soldiers or troops) into proper formation; especially, to adjust (soldiers or troops) into straight lines and at a proper distance from each other; to align.

(intransitive) To put on clothes.

(intransitive) (specifically) To attire oneself for a particular (especially formal) occasion, or in a fashionable manner.

(intransitive) Of a thing: to attain a certain condition after undergoing some process or treatment to fit or prepare it for use.

(intransitive) (euphemistic, chiefly in the tailoring context) To allow one's penis to fall to one side or the other within one's trousers.

(intransitive) (butchering) Of an animal carcass: to have a certain quantity or weight after removal of the internal organs and skin; also, to have a certain appearance after being cut up and prepared for cooking.

(intransitive) (military, sometimes imperative as a drill command) Of soldiers or troops: to arrange into proper formation; especially, to form into straight lines and at a proper distance from each other.

(intransitive) (sports) Of a sportsperson: to put on the uniform and have the equipment needed to play a sport.

(transitive) To apply a dressing to or otherwise treat (a wound); (obsolete) to give (a wounded person) medical aid.

(transitive) (historical or England, regional) To remove chaff or impurities from (flour, grain, etc.) by bolting or sifting, winnowing, and other methods.

(transitive) (Northern England, archaic) To treat (someone) in a particular manner; specifically, in an appropriate or fitting manner; (by extension, ironic) to give (someone) a deserved beating; also, to give (someone) a good scolding; to dress down.

(transitive) (obsolete) To break in and train (a horse or other animal) for use.

(intransitive) (slang) Ellipsis of cross-dress. [To wear clothes typically associated with the opposite sex.]

(reflexive, intransitive, obsolete) To prepare (oneself); to make ready.

Roots

directusdress- · Latin · straight, right

Synonyms & related words for dresses

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Words related to dresses

Explore words related to dresses — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include frock, attire, clothes, apparel, garment, garb, raiment, underdress. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does dresses come from?

The word dresses breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root dress-, from Latin directus (“straight, right”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.