tights
Americannoun
-
a skin-tight, one-piece garment for the lower part of the body and the legs, now often made of stretch fabric, originally worn by dancers, acrobats, gymnasts, etc., and later made for general wear for adults and children.
-
a leotard with legs and, sometimes, feet.
plural noun
-
-
Also called (US, Canadian, Austral, and NZ): pantyhose. a one-piece clinging garment covering the body from the waist to the feet, worn by women in place of stockings
-
Also called: leotards. a similar, tight-fitting garment worn instead of trousers by either sex
-
-
a similar garment formerly worn by men, as in the 16th century with a doublet
Etymology
Origin of tights
Explanation
Tights are a like snug, super long socks that go all the way up to your waist. Ballet dancers wear tights — and so does Superman. Tights are worn under skirts or dresses, by dancers and runners, and by actors playing roles including Hamlet and Peter Pan. The name comes from "tight-fitting breeches," and beginning in the early 19th century, tights referred to gear worn by acrobats and dancers. Today, the words pantyhose and stockings are commonly used interchangeably with tights.
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.
Brooks's films include "The Producers", for which he won an original screenplay Oscar, "The Twelve Chairs", "Young Frankenstein" and "Robin Hood: Men in Tights".
From Reuters • Jun. 27, 2023
Barber is the founder and managing director at Web Shop Direct, which runs the online fashion brands UK Tights and UK Swimwear.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2023
"Tights must not be coloured, hair must not be dyed, the colour of hair elastics is fixed, and they must not be worn on the wrist," she says.
From BBC • Dec. 22, 2019
Scott has said the only Robin Hood film he really liked was Mel Brooks's spoof, Men in Tights.
From The Guardian • Apr. 14, 2010
Society.—A thoughtful Caretaker.—To this Aberdonian's Disappointment, I do not appear in Tights before the Aberdeen Public.
From Friend Mac Donald by O'Rell, Max
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.
