dress
C1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A one-piece garment for a woman or girl that covers the body and extends down over the legs.
Clothing of a specified kind; formal or smart attire; to put on clothes; to decorate or arrange; to treat or prepare a surface, wound, or food.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun can refer to a specific garment or clothing in general (e.g., 'evening dress'). The verb covers a wide range of meanings from wearing clothes to applying finishes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'dress' as a noun more commonly refers specifically to a woman's one-piece garment. In American English, 'dress' can more frequently be used as a mass noun for clothing (e.g., 'casual dress').
Connotations
Similar. 'Dress' as a verb ('dress a wound', 'dress a salad') is equally common in both.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent as a noun in UK English; the verb form is slightly more frequent in US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] dress [AdvP] (e.g., She dresses elegantly)[NP] dress [NP] (e.g., She dressed the child)[NP] dress [PrepP] (e.g., dress in black)[NP] get dressedVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dress to kill”
- “dressed to the nines”
- “dress down”
- “dress someone down”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to formal attire policy: 'The company has a strict business dress code.'
Academic
In anthropology/sociology: 'A study of traditional dress in indigenous communities.'
Everyday
Most common as a garment: 'She wore a red dress to the party.'
Technical
In medicine: 'The nurse will dress the wound.' In cooking: 'Dress the salad with olive oil.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- It takes her an hour to dress in the morning.
- He dressed the mannequin in the shop window.
- You must dress appropriately for the interview.
American English
- She helped dress the kids for school.
- The chef will dress the salad tableside.
- Make sure to dress warm for the football game.
adverb
British English
- He was dressed rather smartly.
American English
- She came to the picnic dressed down in jeans.
adjective
British English
- He wore a dress suit to the banquet.
- The dress circle is the first balcony in the theatre.
American English
- The dress code is business casual.
- She works in the dress department of the store.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She bought a new dress.
- The little girl can dress herself.
- What colour is your dress?
- I need to find an evening dress for the wedding.
- You should dress warmly; it's cold outside.
- The wound was cleaned and dressed by the nurse.
- The invitation stated 'black tie dress optional'.
- He has a tendency to dress down even for formal events.
- The report was dressed up with impressive graphics.
- His flamboyant mode of dress was a deliberate political statement.
- The company's CSR policy is often seen as window dressing.
- The timber should be properly dressed before construction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DRESS hanging on a hanger, shaped like the letter 'D'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING IS A CONTAINER (e.g., 'dressed in sorrow'), PREPARATION IS DRESSING (e.g., 'dress the timber').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'dress' as 'платье' when referring to clothing in general (use 'одежда').
- In Russian, 'одеваться' is reflexive; in English 'dress' is not ('I dressed', not 'I dressed myself'* in standard usage).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dress' as a countable noun for men's suits (incorrect: *'He wore a black dress.' correct: 'He wore a black suit.').
- Confusing 'dress' (noun) with 'dress' (verb) in sentences like 'I need a dress for the wedding' (noun) vs. 'I need to dress for the wedding' (verb).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'dress' is NOT correct?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, as a countable noun. However, as an uncountable noun ('formal dress') or a verb, it applies to all genders.
'Dress' is the action of putting on clothes or being clothed. 'Wear' describes the state of having clothes on. 'I dressed quickly' vs. 'I am wearing a coat'.
Yes, in phrases like 'He was well dressed', 'military dress', 'Scottish dress'. However, a single garment for a man is not called 'a dress'.
It means to add a sauce, seasoning, or garnish to a dish, most commonly a salad ('dress the salad').
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