dress

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
dress/dres/

▶verb

• 1 put on one's clothes.

  ■ put clothes on (someone).

  ■ wear clothes in a particular way or of a particular type: she dresses well.

  ■ put on clothes appropriate for a formal occasion.

  ■ (dress up) dress in smart clothes or in a special costume.

  ■ (dress down) dress informally.

  ■ (dress someone down) informal reprimand someone.

• 2 decorate or arrange in an attractive way.

• 3 treat or prepare in a particular way.

  ■ clean, treat, or cover (a wound).

  ■ treat the surface of (leather or fabric) during manufacture.

  ■ smooth the surface of (stone).

  ■ apply fertilizer to.

• 4 clean and prepare (food) for cooking or eating.

  ■ add a dressing to (a salad).

• 5 Military draw up (troops) in the proper alignment.

• 6 make (an artificial fishing fly).

▶noun

• 1 a one-piece garment for a woman or girl that covers the body and extends down over the legs.

• 2 clothing of a specified kind: he was in the formal dress of the Council.

  ■ [as modifier] denoting ceremonial clothing or uniform: a dress suit.

– phrases
dressed overall Nautical decorated with a continuous line of flags from bow to stern.
dressed to kill informal wearing glamorous clothes intended to create a striking impression.

– origin ME: from OFr. dresser ‘arrange, prepare’, based on L. directus ‘direct, straight’.