clothespress: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/ObsoleteArchaic, Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “clothespress” mean?
A piece of furniture, typically a tall cupboard or wardrobe, used for storing clothes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A piece of furniture, typically a tall cupboard or wardrobe, used for storing clothes.
A dated term for a wardrobe or armoire; can also refer, in older usage, to a room or closet designated for storing clothing and linens.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally archaic in both varieties. If used, it would be understood as a synonym for 'wardrobe' or 'closet'. No significant regional preference exists due to its obsolescence.
Connotations
Connotes antiquity, formality, and a historical setting. Might be used in historical novels, descriptions of antique furniture, or legal descriptions of property.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage in both BrE and AmE. Its frequency is essentially zero in modern corpora.
Grammar
How to Use “clothespress” in a Sentence
There is a [ADJECTIVE] clothespress in the corner.She opened the clothespress and [PAST TENSE VERB] a gown.The [NOUN] was stored in the clothespress.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical, literary, or material culture studies discussing period furnishings.
Everyday
Not used in modern conversation.
Technical
May appear in auction catalogues or antiques dealing to describe a specific period piece of furniture.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clothespress”
- Using it in modern contexts sounds unnatural. Mistaking it for 'clothes peg' (BrE) or 'clothespin' (AmE).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered an archaic or historical term. In modern English, 'wardrobe', 'armoire', or 'closet' are used instead.
Historically, they were synonyms for a tall storage cupboard for clothes. 'Clothespress' is the older term, while 'wardrobe' is the modern one.
In very old usage, yes, it could refer to a small room or closet for storing clothes and linens, but this meaning is now obsolete.
No. 'Clothespin' (AmE) or 'clothes peg' (BrE) is a small clip for hanging laundry on a line. They are completely different items.
A piece of furniture, typically a tall cupboard or wardrobe, used for storing clothes.
Clothespress is usually archaic, formal, literary in register.
Clothespress: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkləʊðzprɛs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkloʊðzprɛs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a Victorian-era PRESS (like a printing press) that, instead of papers, presses CLOTHES neatly inside a tall cabinet.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER FOR IDENTITY (clothes as an extension of the self, stored and preserved).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate modern synonym for 'clothespress'?