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dress

n. · v.
US //ˈdɹɛs// UK //dɹˈɛs// dress
  1. 1 one-piece garment (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a piece of clothing for a woman or girl that has a top part and a skirt.

    a one-piece outer garment for women or girls, consisting of a bodice and an attached skirt.

    Example

    She wore a beautiful blue dress to her sister's wedding.

    Example

    The protagonist's silk dress was designed to shimmer under the stage lights, emphasizing her movement during the final scene.
  2. 2 clothing in general (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Formal

    clothes in general, especially for a formal or special occasion.

    clothing or apparel collectively, often of a specified kind or for a particular social occasion.

    Example

    The invitation says that formal dress is required for the dinner.

    Example

    The traditional dress of the region features intricate embroidery that has remained unchanged for centuries.
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  1. 3 to treat a wound (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Medicine

    to clean and cover a wound with a bandage.

    to clean, treat, and apply a protective covering or bandage to a wound.

    Example

    The nurse will dress your cut after the doctor examines it.

    Example

    The field medic worked quickly to dress the shrapnel wound, applying pressure to stem the bleeding before transport.
  2. 4 to prepare food (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    to prepare food for cooking or to add oil and vinegar to a salad.

    to prepare a carcass for cooking or to add a sauce or seasoning to food, particularly salad.

    Example

    You should dress the salad just before you serve it so it stays fresh.

    Example

    The chef demonstrated how to dress the poultry efficiently, ensuring the cavity was properly cleaned before stuffing.
  3. 5 to decorate or arrange (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to decorate something, like a shop window or a room.

    to adorn or ornament a space; specifically used for arranging displays or theatrical sets.

    Example

    They spent all night dressing the windows for the Christmas sale.

    Example

    The crew worked tirelessly to dress the set, adding period-accurate props to make the 1920s office look authentic.
  4. 6 military alignment (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Technical Military

    to move soldiers into a straight line.

    to align troops or individuals into a straight line or proper formation.

    Example

    The sergeant ordered the soldiers to dress the line.

    Example

    The platoon was commanded to dress right, ensuring each soldier was perfectly aligned with the person to their immediate side.
Origin

PIE word *dwís The verb is from Middle English dressen, dresse (“to arrange, put in order”), from Anglo-Norman, Old French dresser, drecier (modern French dresser), from Late Latin *dīrēctiāre (“to guide, direct”), from Classical Latin dīrēctus, whence English direct. Further akin to Latin regō. The noun is derived from the verb. Compare typologically adorn (<< Latin ōrnō < ōrdō, whence also ōrdinō, English order, ornament); Russian наряжа́ть (narjažátʹ), наря́д (narjád) (akin to ряд (rjad), поря́док (porjádok)).

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