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dressing

n.
US //ˈdɹɛsɪŋ// UK //dɹˈɛsɪŋ// dress·ing
  1. 1 salad sauce (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    a cold sauce, usually made of oil and vinegar, that you pour over salad.

    a seasoned liquid, typically a vinaigrette or creamy sauce, used to flavour salads.

    Example

    She made a simple dressing with olive oil, lemon, and a little salt.

    Example

    The chef recommended a light balsamic dressing to complement the bitterness of the arugula without overpowering the delicate goat cheese.
  2. 2 medical bandage (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    a protective covering or bandage put on a cut or wound to help it heal.

    a sterile covering applied directly to a wound to promote healing and protect it from infection.

    Example

    The nurse changed the dressing on his arm every morning.

    Example

    The surgeon applied a non-stick dressing to the incision site to ensure the wound remained sterile during the initial recovery phase.
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  1. 3 getting dressed (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of putting on your clothes.

    the process or act of attiring oneself in clothing.

    Example

    He spent a long time on his dressing because it was a formal party.

    Example

    The ritual of morning dressing was, for the Victorian gentleman, a structured affair involving multiple layers and specific accessories.
  2. 4 food stuffing (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Cooking

    a mixture of bread, herbs, and other ingredients used to fill meat before cooking.

    a seasoned mixture of ingredients, such as breadcrumbs and herbs, used to stuff poultry or vegetables.

    Example

    We always have turkey with herb dressing for our holiday dinner.

    Example

    The traditional Thanksgiving dressing was prepared with cornbread, sage, and celery, then baked until the top was perfectly crisp.
  3. 5 soil treatment (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    material like fertilizer that is spread over soil to help plants grow.

    the application of manure, compost, or chemical fertilizers to the surface of the soil.

    Example

    The gardener applied a top dressing of compost to the flower beds.

    Example

    A nitrogen-rich top dressing was applied to the wheat fields in early spring to stimulate vigorous vegetative growth before the flowering stage.
Etymology 1

From Middle English dressing, dressinge, dressynge, equivalent to dress + -ing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English dressynge, dressande, equivalent to dress + -ing.

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