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dress

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To dress is to put on clothes, or to tend to a wound and cover it up properly so it will heal.

(verb)

When you put on your pants and shoes, this is an example of a situation where you dress yourself.
When you put a bandage on a wound, this is an example of a situation where you dress the wound.

The definition of a dress is a one-piece garment consisting of a top and skirt that is usually worn by a woman.

(noun)

A long formal garment worn at a prom is an example of a dress.

See dress in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb dressed or drest, dressing

to put clothes on; clothe
to provide with clothing
to decorate; trim; adorn
to arrange a display in: to dress a store window
to arrange or do up (the hair)
to arrange (troops) in a straight line or lines
to apply medicines and bandages to (a wound, sore, etc.)
to treat as required in preparing for use, grooming, etc.; esp.,
1. to clean and eviscerate (a fowl, deer, etc.)
2. to till, cultivate, or fertilize (fields or plants)
3. to curry (a horse, leather, etc.)
4. to smooth, finish, shape, etc. (stone, wood, etc.)

Origin: ME dressen, to make straight, direct < OFr drecier, to set up, arrange < VL *directiare < L directus: see direct

intransitive verb

to put on clothes; wear clothes
to dress in formal clothes
to get into a straight line or proper alignment: said of troops

noun

clothes, clothing, or apparel, esp. as suitable for certain occasions [casual dress] or for a certain place or time: modern dress
an outer garment for women, having a skirt and usually made in one piece: formerly and traditionally the usual garment for women, now more often limited to somewhat formal occasions
formal clothes
external covering or appearance

adjective

of or for dresses: dress material
worn on formal occasions: a dress suit
requiring formal clothes: a dress occasion

See dress in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb dressed dressed, dress·ing, dress·es

verb, transitive

a. To put clothes on; clothe.
b. To furnish with clothing.
To decorate or adorn: dress a Christmas tree.
To garnish: dressed the side dish with parsley.
To arrange a display in: dress a store window.
To arrange (troops) in ranks; align.
To apply medication, bandages, or other therapeutic materials to (a wound).
To arrange and groom (the hair), as by styling, combing, or washing.
To groom (an animal); curry.
To cultivate (land or plants).
To clean (fish or fowl) for cooking or sale.
a. To put a finish on (stone or wood, for example).
b. To tan or prepare (a hide) in leather-making.

verb, intransitive

To put on clothes.
To wear clothes of a certain kind or style: dresses casually.
To wear formal clothes: dress for dinner.
To get into proper alignment with others: The troops dressed on the squad leader.

noun

Clothing; apparel.
A style of clothing: folk dancers in peasant dress.
A one-piece outer garment for women or girls.
Outer covering or appearance; guise: an ancient ritual in modern dress.

adjective

Suitable for formal occasions: dress shoes.
Requiring formal clothes: a dress dinner.

Phrasal Verbs: dress down To scold; reprimand: I was dressed down by the teacher for lateness. To wear informal clothes, befitting an occasion or location: I dressed down for such a casual occasion. dress up To wear formal or fancy clothes: They dressed up and went to the prom.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English dressen, to arrange, put on clothing

Origin: , from Old French drecier, to arrange

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *dīrēctiāre

Origin: , from Latin dīrēctus

Origin: , past participle of dīrigere, to direct; see direct

Word History: A dress is such a common article of modern attire that it is difficult to imagine that the word dress has not always referred to this garment. The earliest noun sense of dress, recorded in a work written before 1450, was “speech, talk.” This dress comes from the verb dress, which goes back through Old French drecier, “to arrange,” and the assumed Vulgar Latin *dīrēctiāre to Latin dīrēctus, a form of the verb dīrigere, “to direct.” In accordance with its etymology, the verb dress has meant and still means “to place,” “to arrange,” and “to put in order.” The sense “to clothe” is related to the notion of putting in order, specifically in regard to clothing. This verb sense then gave rise to the noun sense “personal attire” as well as to the specific garment sense. The earliest noun sense, “speech,” comes from a verb sense having to do with addressing or directing words to other people.

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