English Reference

Word

robe

US/ˈɹoʊb/

UK/ɹˈəʊb/

Definitions

01ceremonial or official clothing

B1

n. a long, loose piece of clothing worn for special events or to show someone's high position, like a judge or a king.

n. a long, flowing outer garment worn as an indication of rank, office, or honorary status.

“The judge wore a long black robe during the trial.”

“The university chancellor led the procession in a ceremonial silk robe, its heavy embroidery catching the light as he walked toward the podium.”

Formal

Synonyms

gownvestment

02bathrobe or loungewear

B1

n. a soft, loose piece of clothing you wear at home, usually after taking a bath or shower.

n. a loose garment worn for comfort or privacy, typically after bathing or while relaxing at home.

“She put on her warm robe and made a cup of tea.”

“After a long day at the office, he found nothing more relaxing than changing into his cotton robe and reading by the fire.”

Synonyms

bathrobedressing gown

03to dress in a robe

C1

v. to put on a robe, especially for a formal ceremony.

v. to invest or dress someone in a robe; frequently used intransitively to describe the act of putting on official vestments.

“The choir members began to robe in the small room behind the altar.”

“The high priest was robed in white linen before the ritual commenced, following a tradition that had remained unchanged for centuries.”

Literary · Formal

Synonyms

Antonyms

unrobeundress

Etymology

From Middle English robe, roobe, from Old French robe, robbe, reube (“booty, spoils of war, robe, garment”), from Frankish rouba, rauba (“booty, spoils, stolen clothes”, literally “things taken”), from Proto-Germanic raubō, raubaz, raubą (“booty, that which is stripped or carried away”), from Proto-Indo-European Hrewp- (“to tear, peel”). cognates and related terms Akin to Old High German roup (“booty”) (Modern German Raub (“robbery, spoils”)), Old High German roubōn (“to rob, steal”) (Modern German rauben (“to rob”)), Old English rēaf (“spoils, booty, dress, armour, robe, garment”), Old English rēafian (“to steal, deprive”). Cognate with Spanish ropa (“clothing, clothes”). More at rob, reaf, reave.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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