Word
bodice
US/ˈbɑdɪs/
UK/bˈɒdɪs/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the top part of a dress that covers your chest and fits close to your body.
n. the fitted upper portion of a dress or gown, covering the torso from shoulders to waist.
Examples
“She wears a dress with a blue bodice.”
“The tailor adjusts the bodice so the wedding dress fits tightly around the shoulders and waist.”
“The museum gown displayed an embroidered silk bodice whose tight lacing revealed how nineteenth-century fashion shaped both posture and social expectations.”
Examples
simple
“She wears a dress with a blue bodice.”
contextual
“The tailor adjusts the bodice so the wedding dress fits tightly around the shoulders and waist.”
complex
“The museum gown displayed an embroidered silk bodice whose tight lacing revealed how nineteenth-century fashion shaped both posture and social expectations.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “bodice” in context.
Verb
01. adjust bodice
“She blushed and quickly adjusted her bodice.”
verb + noun
02. bodice hugs
“This style of bodice hugs the waist and flares over the hips.”
noun + verb
03. bodice slips
“Her strapless bodice slipped slightly as she danced.”
noun + verb
04. lace bodice
“The maid helped her lace the bodice tightly before the ball.”
verb + noun
05. rip bodice
“In the climactic scene, he ripped her bodice in a fit of passion.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. embroidered bodice
“She chose a wedding dress with a delicately embroidered bodice.”
adj + noun
07. fitted bodice
“The actress wore a Regency gown with a tightly fitted bodice.”
adj + noun
08. low-cut bodice
“The heroine of the period drama wore a velvet gown with a low-cut bodice.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. bodice of dress
“The delicate lace on the bodice of the dress took hours to sew.”
noun + prep + noun
10. boning in bodice
“The flexible boning in the bodice gives the gown its shape.”
noun + prep + noun
11. lace up the bodice
“It took two maids to lace up the bodice before the wedding.”
12. spill out of her bodice
“In the romance novel, the heroine almost spilled out of her bodice.”
Real-World Examples
“Inspired by the grand dresses of past eras (think Grace Kelly), long-sleeved tulle bodices featuring high necklines were adorned with oversized floral embroidery for a modern twist.” “Rachel Weisz's Vera Wang champagne satin gown featured a bodice encrusted with crystals.” “Worth nearly 5 times the top bonus paid out to American International Group Inc executives, the silk and taffeta evening gown has a 70 carat pear-shaped diamond at the center of the bodice, topped off with a train sparkling with diamonds.” Etymology
From bodies, plural of body (“upper part of a dress”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/bodice