drawers
- 01 A2 Elementary
the plural form of drawer; sliding boxes in a piece of furniture used for storage.
the plural form of 'drawer', referring to the sliding, box-like compartments in a desk, chest, or cabinet.
Simple“He searched through all the desk drawers looking for his passport.”
In context“The antique dresser featured hand-carved drawers that glided smoothly despite being over a century old.”
PitfallI put my socks in the chest of drawer. I put my socks in the chest of drawers.The furniture item is always called a 'chest of drawers' in the plural, even if you are only using one part of it.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
an old-fashioned or informal word for underpants.
a plural-only noun referring to undergarments covering the lower torso and legs.
Simple“The old man complained about having to wash his long drawers by hand.”
In context“In Victorian literature, the term 'drawers' frequently referred to the linen undergarments worn beneath heavy trousers or skirts.”
UsageAlways used in the plural form; takes a plural verb.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
a slang word for any clothes that cover your legs, like trousers or shorts.
a slang or dialectal term for any leg-covering garment, including trousers, shorts, or tights.
Simple“He spilled juice all over his new drawers before the party started.”
In context“The local dialect used 'drawers' to describe everything from athletic shorts to formal trousers, often confusing visitors to the region.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is highly regional and informal; learners should generally use 'trousers' or 'pants' to avoid being misunderstood as referring to underwear.
See drawer.
From draw (“to pull”), hence that which is pulled onto the body. Attested from the late 16th century. Compare drawer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.