# dress

/ˈdɹɛs/ (US) · /dɹˈɛs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dress
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. one-piece garment

noun · CEFR A1

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

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

- She wore a beautiful blue dress to her sister's wedding.
- The protagonist's silk dress was designed to shimmer under the stage lights, emphasizing her movement during the final scene.

### 2. clothing in general

noun · CEFR B1 · Formal

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

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

- The invitation says that formal dress is required for the dinner.
- The traditional dress of the region features intricate embroidery that has remained unchanged for centuries.

### 4. to treat a wound

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

to clean and cover a wound with a bandage.

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

- The nurse will dress your cut after the doctor examines it.
- The field medic worked quickly to dress the shrapnel wound, applying pressure to stem the bleeding before transport.

### 5. to prepare food

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- You should dress the salad just before you serve it so it stays fresh.
- The chef demonstrated how to dress the poultry efficiently, ensuring the cavity was properly cleaned before stuffing.

### 6. to decorate or arrange

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- They spent all night dressing the windows for the Christmas sale.
- The crew worked tirelessly to dress the set, adding period-accurate props to make the 1920s office look authentic.

### 7. military alignment

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to move soldiers into a straight line.

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

- The sergeant ordered the soldiers to dress the line.
- The platoon was commanded to dress right, ensuring each soldier was perfectly aligned with the person to their immediate side.

## Examples

- She wears a blue dress to the party.
- The bride spent months searching for the perfect white dress for her summer wedding.
- The evolution of the evening dress throughout the twentieth century reflects broader shifts in social norms regarding formality and gender expression.

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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.