dress

v., dressed, dress·ing, dress·es.

v.tr.

1. 1. To put clothes on; clothe.
   2. To furnish with clothing.
2. To decorate or adorn: dress a Christmas tree.
3. To garnish: dressed the side dish with parsley.
4. To arrange a display in: dress a store window.
5. To arrange (troops) in ranks; align.
6. To apply medication, bandages, or other therapeutic materials to (a wound).
7. To arrange and groom (the hair), as by styling, combing, or washing.
8. To groom (an animal); curry.
9. To cultivate (land or plants).
10. To clean (fish or fowl) for cooking or sale.
11. 1. To put a finish on (stone or wood, for example).
    2. To tan or prepare (a hide) in leather-making.

v.intr.

1. To put on clothes.
2. To wear clothes of a certain kind or style: dresses casually.
3. To wear formal clothes: dress for dinner.
4. To get into proper alignment with others: The troops dressed on the squad leader.

n.

1. Clothing; apparel.
2. A style of clothing: folk dancers in peasant dress.
3. A one-piece outer garment for women or girls.
4. Outer covering or appearance; guise: an ancient ritual in modern dress.

adj.

1. Suitable for formal occasions: dress shoes.
2. Requiring formal clothes: a dress dinner.

phrasal verbs:

dress down

1. To scold; reprimand: I was dressed down by the teacher for lateness.
2. To wear informal clothes, befitting an occasion or location: I dressed down for such a casual occasion.

dress up

1. To wear formal or fancy clothes: They dressed up and went to the prom.

idiom:

dress ship Nautical.

1. To display the ensign, signal flags, and bunting on a ship.

[Middle English dressen, to arrange, put on clothing, from Old French drecier, to arrange, from Vulgar Latin *dīrēctiāre, from Latin dīrēctus, past participle of dīrigere, to direct. See direct.]

WORD HISTORY   A dress is such a common article of modern attire that it is difficult to imagine that the word dress has not always referred to this garment. The earliest noun sense of dress, recorded in a work written before 1450, was "speech, talk." This dress comes from the verb dress, which goes back through Old French drecier, "to arrange," and the assumed Vulgar Latin *dīrēctiāre to Latin dīrēctus, a form of the verb dīrigere, "to direct." In accordance with its etymology, the verb dress has meant and still means "to place," "to arrange," and "to put in order." The sense "to clothe" is related to the notion of putting in order, specifically in regard to clothing. This verb sense then gave rise to the noun sense "personal attire" as well as to the specific garment sense. The earliest noun sense, "speech," comes from a verb sense having to do with addressing or directing words to other people.

1. To prepare game, fowl, fish and so forth for cooking by plucking, scaling, eviscerating, and so on. 2. To "dress a salad" simply means adding a dressing.

also dress up

verb

1. To put clothes on: apparel, attire, clothe, garb, garment, invest. Informal tog. See put on/take off.
2. To furnish with decorations. adorn, bedeck, deck² (out), decorate, embellish, garnish, ornament, trim. See beautiful/ugly.
3. To apply therapeutic materials to (a wound): bandage, bind. See care for/neglect.
4. To prepare (soil) for the planting and raising of crops: cultivate, culture, tend², till, work. See prepared/unprepared, touch/not touch.

phrasal verb - dress down

To criticize for a fault or an offense: admonish, call down, castigate, chastise, chide, rap¹, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, scold, tax, upbraid. Informal bawl out, lambaste. Slang chew out. Idioms: bringcalltaketo task, call on the carpet, haulrakeover the coals, let someone have it,, attack/defend, praise/blame.

phrasal verb - dress up

To dress in formal or special clothing: array, attire, deck² (out), prank². Informal trick out (or up). Slang doll up,, order/disorder, plain/fancy, put on/take off.

noun

1. Articles worn to cover the body: apparel, attire, clothes, clothing, garment (used in plural), habiliment (often used in plural), raiment. Informal dud (used in plural), tog (used in plural). Slang thread (used in plural). See put on/take off.
2. A set or style of clothing: costume, garb, guise, habiliment (often used in plural), outfit, turnout. Informal getup, rig. See put on/take off.
3. A one-piece skirted outer garment for women and children: frock, gown. See put on/take off.

v

Definition: cover a wound
Antonyms: open, uncover, undress

v

Definition: physically prepare; groom
Antonyms: disarray, mess up, rumple, wrinkle

v

Definition: put on clothing
Antonyms: bare, disrobe, lay bare, unclothe, undress

---

v. 1. draw up (troops) in the proper alignment.

2. (of troops) come into such an alignment.

n.

denoting military uniform or other clothing used on formal or ceremonial occasions: a dress suit.

dress ship decorate a ship with flags, for a special occasion.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

For more information on dress, visit Britannica.com.

IN BRIEF: Clothing that is a top and skirt in one piece. Also: To put on clothes.

It was so cold in New York City today that the Statue of Liberty had her torch under her dress. — David Letterman (1947-), American television comedian and host of CBS’ The Late Show.

Quotes:

"There is much to support the view that it is clothes that wear us, and not we, them; we may make them take the mould of arm or breast, but they mould our hearts, our brains, our tongues to their liking." - Virginia Woolf

"He was a tubby little chap who looked as if he had been poured into his clothes and had forgotten to say when!" - Sir P(elham) G(renville) Wodehouse

"One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art." - Oscar Wilde

"You can say what you like about long dresses, but they cover a multitude of shins." - Mae West

"When a woman dresses up for an occasion, the man should become the black velvet pillow for the jewel." - John Weitz

"We act the way we dress. Neglected and untidy clothes reflect a neglected and untidy mind." - Source Unknown

See more famous quotes about Dress

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - klæde på, pynte, dekorere, behandle med salve, forbinde, frisere, gøre klar til tilberedning, gøde, glatte, tilhugge, strigle, rette ind
v. intr. - klæde sig, klæde sig på, klæde om, rette sig ind
n. - kjole, dragt, aftentøj
adj. - galla-, selskabs-

idioms:

• dress circle    teaterbalkon
• dress coat    kjolefrakke, herrekjole
• dress down    skælde ud, tage mindre pænt tøj på som passer til lejligheden
• dress rehearsal    generalprøve, kostumeprøve
• dress up    pynte sig, klæde sig ud, pynte på
• dressed to kill    klædt på til det helt store
• dressed up to the nines    i sit fineste puds

Nederlands (Dutch)
jurk, kleding, tenue, pluimage, zich kleden, aankleden, kleden, verbinden, prepareren, met saus overgieten, opmaken, richten, versieren, zich verkleden

Français (French)
v. tr. - habiller, s'habiller, (Théât) costumer, parer, orner, (Naut) pavoiser, (Culin) assaisonner, garnir, accommoder, préparer (un poulet), apprêter (des peaux), corroyer (le cuir), dégrossir (le bois), tailler, dresser (le bois), (Agric) façonner, aligner (des troupes), panser (une plaie)
v. intr. - s'habiller, se vêtir, s'aligner (des soldats)
n. - vêtements, robe, habillement, tenue, mise
adj. - habillé

idioms:

• dress circle    (Théât) premier balcon, corbeille
• dress coat    habit, queue-de-pie
• dress down    (GB) passer un savon à, panser (un cheval), (GB) s'habiller décontracté
• dress rehearsal    (Théât) répétition générale, (fig) répétition générale
• dress up    se mettre en grande toilette, s'endimancher (péj), se déguiser, se costumer, déguiser en
• dressed to kill    habillé de manière irrésistible
• dressed up to the nines    être sur son trente-et-un

Deutsch (German)
n. - Kleidung, Kleid, Tracht, Uniform
v. - sich kleiden, ankleiden, verbinden, schmücken, frisieren, hobeln, gerben, polieren, düngen, (Mil.) ausrichten, sich anziehen
adj. - Kleider...

idioms:

• dress circle    erster Rang
• dress coat    Mantelkleid
• dress down    (ugs.) zurechtweisen
• dress rehearsal    Generalprobe
• dress up    schmücken, fein anziehen, verkleiden, sich herausputzen, sich verkleiden
• dressed to kill    herausgeputzt
• dressed up to the nines    sehr festlich gekleidet sein

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - φουστάνι, φόρεμα, αμφίεση, περιβολή, ενδυμασία, ντύσιμο, ένδυμα, ρούχο
v. - ντύνω/-ομαι, ντύνομαι επίσημα, ετοιμάζω για χρήση ή σερβίρισμα, αραδιάζω, παρατάσσω, προετοιμάζω, προλειαίνω, επιδένω ή περιποιούμαι τραύμα (κν. μπαντάρω), διευθετώ εκτιθέμενα αντικείμενα (σε βιτρίνα κ.λπ.), διακοσμώ, βάζω λαδόξιδο σε (σαλάτα)

idioms:

• dress circle    πρώτος εξώστης
• dress coat    (ενδυμ.) φράκο, βελάδα
• dress down    (καθομ.) επιπλήττω, κατσαδιάζω
• dress rehearsal    επίσημη ή τελευταία πρόβα παράστασης (πρόβα τζενεράλε, γενική δοκιμή)
• dress up    ντύνομαι επίσημα, φοράω τα καλά μου
• dressed to kill    (καθομ.) ντυμένος στο καντίνι, στην πένα/του κουτιού
• dressed up to the nines    ντυμένος στην πένα

Italiano (Italian)
vestirsi, fasciare, adornare, cambiarsi, indumento, vestito, costume, tenuta

idioms:

• dress circle    prima galleria
• dress down    dare una lavata di capo
• dress rehearsal    prova generale
• dress up    vestirsi elegantemente, travestirsi
• dressed to kill    vestito/a da far colpo

Português (Portuguese)
n. - vestido (m)
v. - vestir(-se)

idioms:

• dress circle    camarote (m) no teatro
• dress coat    casaca (f)
• dress down    corretivo (m), vestir-se informalmente
• dress rehearsal    ensaio (m) geral
• dress up    vestir roupas especiais
• dressed to kill    pronto para matar
• evening dress    vestido a rigor
• full dress    traje (m) de cerimônia

Русский (Russian)
одеваться, одевать, перевязывать, украшать, платье, наряд

idioms:

• dress circle    ложа для почетных гостей
• dress coat    офиц. пальто
• dress down    одеться небрежно, отчитать
• dress rehearsal    генеральная репетиция
• dress up    разодеться
• dressed to kill    разодетый в пух и прах
• evening dress    вечернее платье
• full dress    парадный костюм

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - vestir, vendar, curar, adornar, engalanar, sazonar, diseñar ropa
v. intr. - vestirse, cambiarse de ropa, alinearse
n. - ropa, vestido, traje, traje regional, traje tradicional, uniforme
adj. - de vestido formal, de o para vestimenta

idioms:

• dress circle    primer piso, platea alta
• dress coat    frac
• dress down    echar un rapapolvo, regañar, dar un café
• dress rehearsal    ensayo general
• dress up    ponerse de tiros largos, vestirse elegante, disfrazarse
• dressed to kill    de punta en blanco, de tiros largos
• dressed up to the nines    engalanado, vestido de punta en blanco

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - dräkt, kläder, toalett
v. - klä sig, smycka, tekn. smörja, tillreda

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
给...穿衣, 整理, 穿衣, 穿晚礼服, 打扮, 整队, 女装, 衣服, 连衣裙, 服装, 连衣裙的

idioms:

• dress circle    前排座位
• dress coat    燕尾服
• dress down    狠狠地训斥, 整理
• dress rehearsal    预演, 彩排
• dress up    打扮, 装饰
• dressed to kill    漂亮的要命
• dressed up to the nines    打扮的非常入时

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 給...穿衣, 整理
v. intr. - 穿衣, 穿晚禮服, 打扮, 整隊
n. - 女裝, 衣服, 連衣裙, 服裝
adj. - 連衣裙的

idioms:

• dress circle    前排座位
• dress coat    燕尾服
• dress down    狠狠地訓斥, 整理
• dress rehearsal    預演, 彩排
• dress up    打扮, 裝飾
• dressed to kill    漂亮的要命
• dressed up to the nines    打扮的非常入時

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 옷을 입히다, 매무새를 만지다, 장식하다, (광석 등을) 가려내다
v. intr. - 옷을 입다, 정장하다, 줄을 맞추다
n. - 옷, 정장, (여성용) 드레스, 외모
adj. - 옷의, 정장의, 입기에 알맞은

idioms:

• dress down    꾸중, 엄하게 혼남
• dress up    정장하다, 멋지게 보이게 하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 服装, 婦人服, ドレス, 装い
v. - 服を着せる, 身じたくさせる, 正装する, 下ごしらえする, 手入れする, 毛をすく, 整列する, 飾る, 刈り込む

idioms:

• be dressed up to the nines    正装して
• dress circle    特等席, 特別席
• dress coat    燕尾服
• dress down    すいてやる, 叱り付ける
• dress rehearsal    本稽古, 本番並みの練習
• dress up    盛装する, 扮装する, 飾る

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) ثوب, ردا, لباس, (فعل) يلبس, يكسو, يزين, يضمد ( جرحا), يحضر طعام للطبخ‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮הלביש, הכין לשימוש, הכין לבישול, קישט, סירק או קצץ את השיער, הוסיף רוטב, דישן, גימר (בד, בניין), עיבד עור, טיפל בסוס, טיפל בפצע ע"י משחה‬
v. intr. - ‮התלבש, הסתדר בשורה‬
n. - ‮שמלה, תלבושת, לבוש, מעטה גוף‬
adj. - ‮רשמי, חגיגי‬

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Dress	Bridesmaid Dress
dress	Halter Dress