# blouse

/ˈbɫaʊs/ (US) · /blˈaʊz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blouse
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. woman's shirt

noun · CEFR A2

a shirt for women or girls, usually made of light fabric and often having buttons or a collar.

For teachers: a woman's upper garment, typically made of lightweight fabric and often featuring a collar and buttons.

- She wore a white silk blouse with her navy blue suit for the interview.
- The designer's spring collection featured several high-collared blouses made from breathable linen and adorned with intricate lace detailing.

### 2. military jacket

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a loose-fitting jacket that is part of a military or police uniform.

For teachers: a loose-fitting uniform jacket, particularly one worn by members of the armed forces or emergency services.

- The soldier ironed his uniform blouse before the morning inspection.
- The service dress blouse was tailored to allow for a full range of motion while maintaining a crisp, professional appearance during ceremonies.

### 3. sari garment

noun · CEFR B2 · Dialect

a short, tight-fitting top worn under a sari.

For teachers: a short-sleeved, midriff-baring garment worn as an undergarment for a sari.

- She chose a gold blouse to match the embroidery on her wedding sari.
- Traditional sari draping requires a well-fitted blouse to provide the necessary structure for the heavy silk fabric of the pallu.

Usage: Commonly used in South Asian English contexts.

### 4. to hang loosely

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to make a piece of clothing hang in loose folds.

For teachers: to cause a garment to hang in loose, drooping folds, often by tucking it in loosely.

- He pulled his shirt out slightly to blouse it over his belt.
- The stylist instructed the model to blouse the oversized sweater to create a more relaxed, voluminous silhouette for the photoshoot.

### 5. to tuck trousers

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Dialect

to tuck the bottom of your trousers into your boots.

For teachers: to secure the cuffs of trousers inside the tops of boots, typically using elastic bands or ties.

- The hikers bloused their trousers to keep ticks and dirt out of their socks.
- Regulations required all recruits to blouse their combat trousers neatly above their boots to ensure a uniform appearance across the platoon.

Usage: Frequently used in military or hiking contexts.

## Examples

- She wore a white blouse with her skirt.
- For the interview, she chose a crisp blue blouse to look professional and neat.
- The vintage silk blouse, with its delicate lace cuffs and high collar, evoked the elegance of the early twentieth century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.