D defs.my
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Entry 13 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Dress

/(drĕs)/ · IPA /dɹɛs/
01 v. t. To direct; to put right or straight; to regulate; to order.
imp. & p. p. Dressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dressing
  1. 1.
    To direct; to put right or straight; to regulate; to order.[Obs.]
    “At all times thou shalt bless God and pray Him to dress thy ways.” — Chaucer.
    “To Grisild again will I me dresse.” — Chaucer.
  2. 2.
    To arrange in exact continuity of line, as soldiers; commonly to adjust to a straight line and at proper distance; to align; as, to dress the ranks.(Mil.)
  3. 3.
    To treat methodically with remedies, bandages, or curative appliances, as a sore, an ulcer, a wound, or a wounded or diseased part.(Med.)
  4. 4.
    To adjust; to put in good order; to arrange; specifically: (a) To prepare for use; to fit for any use; to render suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready; as, to dress a slain animal; to dress meat; to dress leather or cloth; to dress or trim a lamp; to dress a garden; to dress a horse, by currying and rubbing; to dress grain, by cleansing it; in mining and metallurgy, to dress ores, by sorting and separating them.
    “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it.” — Gen. ii. 15.
    “When he dresseth the lamps he shall burn incense.” — Ex. xxx. 7.
    “Three hundred horses . . . smoothly dressed.” — Dryden.
    “Dressing their hair with the white sea flower.” — Tennyson.
    “If he felt obliged to expostulate, he might have dressed his censures in a kinder form.” — Carlyle.
  5. 5.
    To cut to proper dimensions, or give proper shape to, as to a tool by hammering; also, to smooth or finish.
  6. 6.
    To put in proper condition by appareling, as the body; to put clothes upon; to apparel; to invest with garments or rich decorations; to clothe; to deck.
    “Dressed myself in such humility.” — Shak.
    “Prove that ever Idress myself handsome till thy return.” — Shak.
  7. 7.
    To break and train for use, as a horse or other animal.
Phrases & compounds
To dress up — to dress elaborately, artificially, or pompously.
To dress a ship — to ornament her by hoisting the national colors at the peak and mastheads, and setting the jack forward; when dressed full, the signal flags and pennants are added.
Syn. To attire; apparel; clothe; accouter; array; robe; rig; trim; deck; adorn; embellish.
02 v. i. To arrange one's self in due position in a line of soldiers; -- the word of command to form alignment in ranks; as, Dress right, dress!
  1. 1.
    To arrange one's self in due position in a line of soldiers; -- the word of command to form alignment in ranks; as, Dress right, dress!(Mil.)
  2. 2.
    To clothe or apparel one's self; to put on one's garments; to pay particular regard to dress; as, to dress quickly.
    “To flaunt, to dress, to dance, to thrum.” — Tennyson.
Phrases & compounds
To dress to the right — to form alignment with reference to the soldier on the extreme right, or in the center, of the rank, who serves as a guide.
03 n. That which is used as the covering or ornament of the body; clothes; garments; habit; apparel.
  1. 1.
    That which is used as the covering or ornament of the body; clothes; garments; habit; apparel.
  2. 2.
    A lady's gown; as, silk or a velvet dress.
  3. 3.
    Attention to apparel, or skill in adjusting it.
    “Men of pleasure, dress, and gallantry.” — Pope.
  4. 4.
    The system of furrows on the face of a millstone.(Milling)
Phrases & compounds
Dress parade — a parade in full uniform for review.