Dresser

/ˈdresər/

nounBeginner📊CommonObject
2 meanings2 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A piece of furniture with drawers, often combined with a mirror, used for storing clothing and personal items.

/ˈdresər/

nounneutralBeginner
Object

A piece of furniture with drawers for storing clothes and often with a mirror attached.

He bought a new dresser to match the bed.

💡 Simply: Imagine a big box with drawers that you keep in your bedroom. You put your clothes in it to keep them neat and organized. You might even have a mirror on top to check yourself out after you get dressed!

👶 For kids: A dresser is like a big drawer box where you keep your clothes.

More Examples

2

She put her jewelry in the top drawer of the dresser.

3

The mirror on the dresser reflected the sunlight.

How It's Used

Home Furnishings

"She keeps her clothes neatly folded in the dresser drawers."

2

A person or thing that prepares or adorns something, such as a cook who dresses a salad or a person who dresses a person or animal.

/ˈdresər/

nounneutralmedium
Person/Occupation

A person or thing that dresses something, especially a cook.

The restaurant hired a new salad dresser.

💡 Simply: Sometimes, 'dresser' can also be someone who makes things ready. Like the person who makes the salad look nice with a dressing, or someone who prepares the turkey for the oven.

👶 For kids: A dresser is also someone who fixes up food or helps someone get dressed.

More Examples

2

The hunter hired a professional deer dresser to prepare the animal.

3

The cook was also the dresser of the salads for each meal.

How It's Used

Culinary

"The chef instructed the salad dresser to prepare the vinaigrette."

Historical

"Historically, a dresser was often a member of a royal household responsible for dressing the monarch."

Tip:Think of the person who dresses the food or the king.

Synonyms & Antonyms

From Middle English dressour, from Old French drecier ('to arrange, prepare'), ultimately from Vulgar Latin *directiare, from Latin directus ('straight, direct').

Historically, a dresser could refer to a person responsible for preparing food or dressing a person in a royal setting.

Memory tip

Think of the place you dress up. A dresser helps you store your clothes so you can dress up!

Word Origin

LanguageOld French
Original meaning

"to arrange, prepare"

new dresserwooden dresserdresser drawersdresser mirrorantique dresser

Common misspellings

dressserdressor

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written