costume

[kos-toom, -tyoom, ko-stoom, -styoom]

noun

1. a style of dress, including accessories and hairdos, especially that peculiar to a nation, region, group, or historical period.

2. dress or garb characteristic of another period, place, person, etc., as worn on the stage or at balls.

3. fashion of dress appropriate to a particular occasion or season.

   dancing costume; winter costume.

4. a set of garments, especially women's garments, selected for wear at a single time; outfit; ensemble.

verb (used with object)

costumed, costuming 

1. to dress; furnish with a costume; provide appropriate dress for.

   to costume a play.

adjective

1. of or characterized by the wearing of costumes.

   a costume party.

2. meant for use with or appropriate to a specific costume.

   costume accessories.

costume

/ ˈkɒstjuːm /

noun

1. a complete style of dressing, including all the clothes, accessories, etc, worn at one time, as in a particular country or period; dress

   national costume

2. old-fashioned,  a woman's suit

3. a set of clothes, esp unusual or period clothes, worn in a play by an actor or at a fancy dress ball

   a jester's costume

4. short for swimming costume

verb

1. to furnish the costumes for (a show, film, etc)

2. to dress (someone) in a costume

Other Word Forms

• recostume verb (used with object)
• uncostumed adjective
• well-costumed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of costume¹

1705–15; < French < Italian: usage, habit, dress; doublet of custom

Word History and Origins

Origin of costume¹

C18: from French, from Italian: dress, habit, _custom

Synonym Study

See dress.

Example Sentences

His wife, a professional dancer, has multiple costumes that have yet to be cleaned; it’s been so long since he’s been home that he doesn’t remember which photographs still cling to his fridge.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A library in Dudley is running a Halloween costume swap to help families save money.

Read more on BBC

As far as weird things go, costumes are always fun to see.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They also found human skulls fashioned into soup bowls; lampshades and costumes made from human skin; and mutilated female body parts, among other nightmare fuel.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On Monday afternoon, a group of about 40 people including grandmothers, parents and their children, and a man in a chicken costume, held flowers and signs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apparel 
• attire 
• dress 
• ensemble 
• fashion 
• garb 
• getup 
• style 
• suit 
• uniform 
• wardrobe