dresser
B1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A piece of bedroom furniture with drawers for storing clothes.
1) A person who dresses someone else or helps with costumes (e.g., backstage). 2) A kitchen sideboard or cupboard for dishes. 3) (Horticulture) A person who prunes and trains plants.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. As a piece of furniture, the sense is different in North American vs. British English, causing potential confusion. The 'kitchen dresser' sense is more common in British English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the US, 'dresser' primarily means a chest of drawers for bedroom clothes. In the UK, a 'chest of drawers' is distinct from a 'dresser', which often refers to a piece of kitchen furniture with shelves and cupboards, often for dishes. The UK also uses 'dresser' for the bedroom piece, but 'chest of drawers' is equally common.
Connotations
US: neutral, functional bedroom furniture. UK: the kitchen 'dresser' can have rustic, country-style, or antique connotations.
Frequency
In US English, 'dresser' is the default term for a bedroom chest of drawers. In UK English, 'dresser' for kitchen furniture is frequent; for bedroom furniture, 'chest of drawers' is slightly more common than 'dresser'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
put sth in/on the dressera dresser of [dishes/clothes]dresser for [plates/storage]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Done up/dressed up like a pox doctor's clerk/dresser (UK, informal: overdressed)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might appear in furniture retail or interior design contexts.
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or design studies discussing domestic interiors.
Everyday
Very common in domestic and home furnishing contexts.
Technical
Used in theatre ('wardrobe dresser') and horticulture ('tree dresser').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She keeps her socks in the top drawer of the dresser.
- The plates are on the kitchen dresser.
- We bought a new pine dresser for the bedroom.
- He's working as a dresser for a major theatre production.
- The antique dresser, inherited from her grandmother, was the centrepiece of the dining room.
- A skilled dresser can make an actor ready for a quick costume change in under thirty seconds.
- The playwright's stage directions specified a 'Welsh dresser' to establish the rural setting.
- His fastidious nature was evident in his work as a premier tree dresser for the royal gardens.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A DRESSER holds your DRESSes (US) or the DRESSed plates you eat from (UK).
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR PREPARED THINGS (clothes ready to wear, dishes ready to serve).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите автоматически как "одевальщик" или "костюмер" (это только специфическое значение). Основное значение — мебель. Осторожно с различием UK (кухонный шкаф) и US (комод в спальне). Русский "комод" или "буфет".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dresser' to mean only a person who dresses. Confusing UK and US furniture meanings. Spelling: 'dressor' is incorrect.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most likely meaning of 'dresser' in the context of a London flat description: 'The rental includes a fitted kitchen with a vintage dresser.'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In US English, yes, they are essentially synonyms for bedroom furniture. In UK English, a 'chest of drawers' is specifically for bedrooms, while a 'dresser' often refers to kitchen furniture, though it can also be used for the bedroom piece.
Yes, but it's a specific professional context. A 'dresser' is someone who assists with clothing, most commonly a 'wardrobe dresser' or 'theatrical dresser' backstage in a theatre, or a 'window dresser' in retail.
A 'Welsh dresser' is a type of traditional British kitchen furniture, typically made of wood, with open shelves on top and cupboards or drawers below. It is used for storing and displaying dishes.
Slightly. The UK pronunciation is /ˈdrɛsə/ (two syllables, no final 'r' sound). The US pronunciation is /ˈdrɛsər/ (two syllables, with a rhotic final 'r' sound).