dress

noun

UK /dres/

Word Forms

singular	dress
plural	dresses

1
countable a piece of clothing that covers the body and part of the legs
She was wearing a blue cotton dress.
I’d never seen her in a dress before.
Synonyms and related words
Skirts and dresses
ballgown
caftan
chemise
2
uncountable the clothes that are typical of a particular place, time in history, or occasion
The children were wearing traditional Norwegian dress.
They performed the play in Victorian dress.
Synonyms and related words
Traditional clothing from around the world
dress
kilt
kimono
1. 2a
  the clothes that someone usually wears
  He has an unusual style of dress.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for clothes
  apparel
  attire
  clobber

dress

noun

US /dres/

Word Forms

singular	dress
plural	dresses

1
countable a piece of clothing that covers the body and part of the legs
She was wearing a blue cotton dress.
I’d never seen her in a dress before.
Synonyms and related words
Skirts and dresses
ballgown
chemise
cheongsam
2
uncountable the clothes that someone usually wears
He has an unusual style of dress.
Synonyms and related words
General words for clothes
apparel
attire
clobber
1. 2a
  the clothes that are typical of a particular place, time in history, or occasion
  The children were wearing traditional Norwegian dress.
  They performed the play in Victorian dress.
  Synonyms and related words
  Traditional clothing from around the world
  caftan
  dress
  kilt

dress

verb

UK /dres/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	dress
he/she/it	dresses
present participle	dressing
past tense	dressed
past participle	dressed

1
intransitive to put on clothes. This verb is common in writing, but when you are speaking it is more usual to say that you get dressed
It only took her ten minutes to shower and dress.
Synonyms and related words
To put on or be wearing clothes and to dress other people
put on
wear
get dressed
1. 1a
  intransitive to put on clothes of a particular type
  dress in:
  He tends to dress in dark colours.
  dress as:
  The nurses had decided to dress as clowns for Halloween.
  Synonyms and related words
  To put on or be wearing clothes and to dress other people
  put on
  wear
  get dressed
2. 1b
  transitive to put clothes on someone
  We wash the children and dress them for school.
  dress yourself:
  Our youngest boy can already dress himself.
  Synonyms and related words
  To put on or be wearing clothes and to dress other people
  put on
  wear
  get dressed
3. 1c
  transitive to choose or design the clothes that someone wears
  He dresses many of Europe’s most glamorous women.
  Synonyms and related words
  To put on or be wearing clothes and to dress other people
  put on
  wear
  get dressed
4. 1d
  intransitive to put on clothes that are suitable for a particular occasion or event
  dress for:
  It would be sensible to dress for cold weather.
  They dressed for dinner every night (=put on formal clothes for the evening meal).
  Synonyms and related words
  To put on or be wearing clothes and to dress other people
  put on
  wear
  get dressed
2
transitive to clean an injury and cover it with a piece of soft cloth called a dressing
Synonyms and related words
To perform a medical test, treatment or operation
abort
anaesthetise
anaesthetize
3
transitive to add flavour to a salad by putting a mixture of liquids such as oil and lemon juice on it. The mixture is called a dressing.
Synonyms and related words
Prepare food for cooking or eating
bake
beat
blanch
4
transitive to prepare something such as a chicken or crab (=a sea animal) by cleaning it and taking out the parts that you cannot eat
Synonyms and related words
Prepare food for cooking or eating
bake
beat
blanch

phrases

dress someone’s hair

dress (up) to the nines

phrasal verbs

dress down

dress up

dress

verb

US /dres/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	dress
he/she/it	dresses
present participle	dressing
past tense	dressed
past participle	dressed

1
intransitive to put on clothes. This verb is common in writing, but when you are speaking it is more usual to say that you get dressed
It only took her ten minutes to shower and dress.
Synonyms and related words
To put on or be wearing clothes and to dress other people
put on
wear
get dressed
1. 1a
  transitive to put clothes on someone
  We wash the children and dress them for school.
  dress yourself:
  Our youngest boy can already dress himself.
  Synonyms and related words
  To put on or be wearing clothes and to dress other people
  put on
  wear
  get dressed
2. 1b
  intransitive to put on clothes of a particular type
  dress in:
  He tends to dress in dark colors.
  dress as:
  The nurses had decided to dress as clowns for Halloween.
  Synonyms and related words
  To put on or be wearing clothes and to dress other people
  put on
  wear
  get dressed
3. 1c
  transitive to choose or design the clothes that someone wears
  He dresses many of Europe’s most glamorous women.
  Synonyms and related words
  To put on or be wearing clothes and to dress other people
  put on
  wear
  get dressed
4. 1d
  intransitive to put on clothes that are appropriate for a particular occasion or event
  dress for:
  I would suggest that you dress for cold weather.
  They dressed for dinner every night (=put on formal clothes for the evening meal).
  Synonyms and related words
  To put on or be wearing clothes and to dress other people
  put on
  wear
  get dressed
2
transitive to clean an injury and cover it with a piece of soft cloth called a dressing
Synonyms and related words
To perform a medical test, treatment or operation
abort
anaesthetize
anesthetize
3
transitive to add flavor to a salad by putting a mixture of liquids such as oil and lemon juice on it. The mixture is called a dressing.
Synonyms and related words
Prepare food for cooking or eating
bake
beat
blanch
4
transitive to prepare something such as a chicken or crab (=an ocean animal) by cleaning it and taking out the parts that you cannot eat
Synonyms and related words
Prepare food for cooking or eating
bake
beat
blanch

phrases

dress someone’s hair

dress (up) to the nines

phrasal verbs

dress down

dress up

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dress ​‌‌‌

dress ​‌‌‌

dress

dress

dress

dress