dress

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A one-piece garment for a woman or girl that covers the body and extends down over the legs.

   Grammar: Countable: a dress, two dresses.

   Patterns

   • wear a dress
   • a wedding dress

   She wore a beautiful red dress to the party.

   I need to buy a new dress for the interview.

   The little girl twirled in her new dress.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitive

   To put on clothes, or to put clothes on someone else.

   Grammar: Can be used with an object (dress the baby) or without (I dressed quickly).

   Patterns

   • dress someone
   • dress for something
   • get dressed

   He dressed the children while his wife made breakfast.

   She dressed quickly and ran out the door.

   We need to dress warmly for the cold weather.

3. 3verbtransitivemedical

   To clean and cover a wound with medication and bandages.

   Grammar: Takes an object: dress a wound.

   Patterns

   • dress a wound
   • dress an injury

   The nurse dressed the wound carefully to prevent infection.

   He dressed the cut on his knee with antiseptic and a bandage.

4. 4verbtransitive

   To prepare a salad by adding oil, vinegar, or other dressing.

   Grammar: Takes an object: dress the salad.

   Patterns

   • dress a salad

   She dressed the salad with olive oil and lemon juice.

   Dress the salad just before serving so it doesn't get soggy.

5. 5verbtransitive

   To decorate or arrange something in a particular way.

   Grammar: Often used with 'up': dress up a room.

   Patterns

   • dress a shop window
   • dress up something

   They dressed the shop window with colorful decorations for the holidays.

   The stage was dressed with simple props.

Word forms

Common combinations

dress code

The restaurant has a strict dress code.

dress up

We dressed up for the wedding.

dress down

You can dress down on Fridays.

wedding dress

She bought a beautiful wedding dress.

dress rehearsal

The final dress rehearsal is tomorrow.

Synonyms and how they differ

gown

A gown is a more formal, often floor-length dress, worn on special occasions.

frock

Frock is an old-fashioned or informal term for a dress.

clothe

Clothe is more formal and means to provide clothes for someone.

Opposites

Word family

dresser noun

A piece of furniture with drawers for clothes, or a person who dresses in a specified way.

dressing noun

A sauce for salads, or a bandage for a wound.

dressy adjective

Suitable for formal occasions; stylish.

dressed adjective

Wearing clothes; often used in compounds like 'well-dressed'.

Commonly confused: dress or cloth? dress or clothes?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “dress”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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