# dressing

Pronunciation: US say "DRES-ing" /ˈdɹɛsɪŋ/; UK

## Noun

1. A sauce, especially a cold one, used to flavor salads.
   - Simple: A cold sauce poured over salads to add flavor.
   - _The chef whisked oil and vinegar into a light dressing._
   - _A good Caesar dressing balances garlic, anchovy, and lemon._
2. Material applied to a wound to protect it or aid healing.
   - Simple: Material placed on a wound to protect it and help it heal.
   - _The paramedic applied a sterile dressing to stop the bleeding._
   - _Surgeons changed the dressing twice to monitor the healing incision._
3. A seasoned mixture of bread or grain used to stuff poultry, pork, and similar meats.
   - Simple: A mix of bread, herbs, and other foods cooked to fill a bird or roast.
   - _She baked the dressing in a separate dish alongside the roast chicken._
   - _The recipe calls for plenty of sage and onion in the dressing._
4. The everyday activity of getting dressed and putting on one's clothing.
   - Simple: The everyday act of putting on your clothes.
   - _After the surgery, dressing became a slow and painful task._
   - _Occupational therapists help patients relearn dressing after a stroke._
6. Material added to soil as a fertilizer to improve its quality and nourish plants.
   - Simple: Material spread on soil to feed plants and help them grow.
   - _Gardeners apply a spring dressing to replenish the soil's nutrients._
   - _A nitrogen-rich dressing boosted the crop's growth markedly._
7. Ornamental work used to finish a building, for example the molding that frames a door or window or decorates a ceiling.
   - Simple: A decorative finish, such as molding around a door or window.
   - _The restored facade featured elaborate stone dressing around each window._
   - _Decorative dressings outlined the doorways of the Georgian townhouse._
8. Gum, starch, or similar substances used to stiffen or finish silk, linen, and other fabrics.
   - Simple: Gum or starch used to stiffen cloth like silk or linen.
   - _Weavers washed out the dressing to leave the silk soft and supple._
   - _A heavy dressing made the new linen feel stiff and glossy._
9. Manure spread over a garden to enrich the soil and nourish the plants. *(dialectal, Maine)*
   - Simple: Manure spread on a garden to make plants grow better.
   - _Every fall he digs a generous dressing of horse manure into the borders._
   - _A dressing of well-rotted manure kept the garden plot fertile._

## Verb

5. Present participle of dress. — present participle and gerund of dress
   - Simple: Present participle of dress. Use this form for an action happening right now.
   - _The nurse is dressing the wound with fresh gauze._
   - _They were dressing the stage before the performance began._

## Noun

10. A harsh scolding or reprimand directed at someone for a fault or failure. *(dated)*
   - Simple: A strong telling-off for doing something wrong.
   - _The sergeant gave the recruits a furious dressing after the failed drill._
   - _She received a stern dressing from the principal._
11. The treatment of mined ore to separate out its metals or other valuable parts. *(dated)*
   - Simple: The work of taking valuable metals out of raw rock and ore.
   - _At the works, dressing separated the copper from the surrounding waste rock._
   - _Improved methods of ore dressing raised yields at the old mine._
12. Clothing or attire, especially ornamental garments and finery worn for display. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Clothing, especially the fine or decorative kind worn for show.
   - _The courtiers appeared in their finest dressing for the royal feast._
   - _Her wedding dressing was embroidered with pearls and gold thread._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–4, 6–12** — From Middle English dressing (also dressinge, dressynge), formed from dress plus the suffix -ing.
**Meaning 5** — From Middle English dressynge (also dressande), formed from dress plus the suffix -ing.

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