kimono
Americannoun
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a loose, wide-sleeved robe, fastened at the waist with a wide sash, characteristic of Japanese costume.
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a woman's loose dressing gown.
noun
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a loose sashed ankle-length garment with wide sleeves, worn in Japan
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any garment copied from this
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of kimono
1885–90; < Japanese: clothing, garb, equivalent to ki wear + mono thing
Explanation
A kimono is a lightweight Japanese robe. You might buy a kimono as a gift for your mom when you travel to Tokyo. A traditional kimono is nearly floor length, loose-fitting and with very wide sleeves. The cloth belt that ties around the waist of a kimono is called an obi. Both men and women wear kimonos, though they're more frequently worn by women. The word kimono literally means "a thing to wear" or "a thing to put on," from the Japanese roots ki, "wear," and mono, "thing."
Vocabulary lists containing kimono
East Asia - Middle School
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East Asia - Introductory
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East Asia - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mary Goretti Kitutu Kimono, the minister for the region, pleaded not guilty in court but was denied bail.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2023
Kimono fabric from 18th century Kyoto — with beautiful patterning — was cut up into strips and shards to construct one abstract gown in gray and beige with a clean white sporty collar.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 7, 2022
"In the instance of Kimono and changing that name, it was an innocent name that the team came up with. But when I got a letter from the Japanese officials, I took it extremely seriously."
From Fox News • Dec. 16, 2021
And originally she called it Kimono, as in the Japanese robe.
From Slate • Jun. 10, 2021
"Whatever you do," warned Jack, "don't, hurt the poor fellow's feelings by calling him Kimono."
From The Submarine Boys and the Spies Dodging the Sharks of the Deep by Durham, Victor G.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
