# costume

Pronunciation: US say "KOS-toom" /ˈkɑsˌt(j)um/; UK say "KOS-tyoom" /ˈkɒs.tjuːm/

## Noun

1. An outfit or disguise worn as fancy dress, for parties, performances, or similar occasions.
   - Simple: An outfit you wear to look like someone or something else, often just for fun.
   - _He spent weeks sewing a dragon costume for the school play._
   - _The shop rents out costumes for masquerade balls._
2. The clothing, accessories, and hairstyle that make up a style of dress, especially one typical of a particular country, period, or people.
   - Simple: The clothing style of a country, time, or group, including clothes, accessories, and hairstyle.
   - _The dancers wore the national costume of their homeland._
   - _Victorian costume often included corsets and layered petticoats._
3. A set of clothes suited to a particular occasion or time of year.
   - Simple: A set of clothes that fits a certain time of year or a special event.
   - _The traveler packed a light summer costume for the trip._
   - _Guests arrived in formal evening costumes._
5. A garment worn for swimming; a swimsuit.
   - Simple: A piece of clothing you wear for swimming.
   - _He wrung out his wet costume after the morning swim._
   - _She bought a new costume for the beach trip._

## Verb

4. To dress or adorn someone with a costume or fitting clothing.
   - Simple: To dress someone in special clothes for a play, party, or show.
   - _The wardrobe team will costume the entire cast in period attire._
   - _She costumed herself as a medieval queen for the festival._

## Origin

Borrowed from French costume, from Italian costume, from Latin consuētūdō ('custom, habit'). It is a doublet of consuetude and custom. The verb dates to around 1802, perhaps modelled on French costumer.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/costume (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).