Dressing
'dresɪŋ
Definitions
4 meaningsA sauce or condiment, typically a liquid, used to flavor or coat food, especially salads.
'dresɪŋ
A sauce for salads or other foods.
She made a homemade Italian dressing.
💡 Simply: Dressing is the yummy sauce you put on salads or sometimes other food, like the stuff you might drizzle over a roasted chicken. It’s like the sprinkles for your meal!
👶 For kids: A yummy sauce that you put on food, especially salad.
More Examples
The chicken salad was bland without the creamy dressing.
I prefer a simple oil and vinegar dressing on my greens.
How It's Used
"The salad was served with a light vinaigrette dressing."
"Choose a low-fat dressing for a healthier option."
A material used to cover and protect a wound.
'dresɪŋ
Material used to cover and protect a wound.
The doctor applied a sterile dressing to the burn.
💡 Simply: Dressing is like a bandage that doctors use to cover up a cut or sore to keep it clean and help it heal.
👶 For kids: A bandage that covers a boo-boo.
More Examples
Change the dressing daily to prevent infection.
The wound was covered with a protective dressing.
How It's Used
"The nurse changed the patient's dressing on the wound."
"Apply a sterile dressing to the cut."
A seasoned mixture, typically bread-based, used to fill the cavity of a fowl or other meat before cooking.
'dresɪŋ
Stuffing for a fowl or other meat.
The chef prepared a sage and onion dressing for the roast chicken.
💡 Simply: Dressing (sometimes called stuffing) is a delicious mixture of bread, herbs, and spices that you put inside a turkey or chicken when you cook it, making it extra yummy.
👶 For kids: Yummy stuff you put inside a bird before you cook it!
More Examples
The dressing added a savory flavor to the turkey.
She preferred a wild rice dressing over a cornbread one.
How It's Used
"The Thanksgiving turkey was stuffed with dressing."
"Grandma always makes a delicious cornbread dressing."
The action of putting on clothes.
'dresɪŋ
The act of putting on clothes.
She was still dressing when the taxi arrived.
💡 Simply: Dressing is the action you take every morning when you put on your clothes to get ready for the day.
👶 For kids: Putting on your clothes.
More Examples
He took his time dressing for the party.
They were dressing in their finest attire.
How It's Used
"He was still dressing when the guests arrived"
"The model was dressing for the photoshoot"
Idioms & expressions
dressing-down
A severe reprimand or scolding.
"The manager gave him a dressing-down for being late."
From Middle English 'dresen,' from Old French 'dresser' meaning 'to arrange, prepare,' ultimately from Latin 'dīrigere' meaning 'to set straight, arrange.'
The word 'dressing' has been used in culinary contexts since the 17th century, with the term gaining popularity in the 19th century in reference to medical applications and the filling for fowl.
Memory tip
Think of what you put on a salad to make it taste better.