blouse

[ blous, blouz ]

/ blaʊs, blaʊz /

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See synonyms for blouse on Thesaurus.com

noun

a usually lightweight, loose-fitting garment for women and children, covering the body from the neck or shoulders more or less to the waistline, with or without a collar and sleeves, worn inside or outside a skirt, slacks, etc.

a single-breasted, semifitted military jacket.

a loose outer garment, reaching to the hip or thigh, or below the knee, and sometimes belted.Compare smock frock.

verb (used without object), bloused, blous·ing.

to puff out in a drooping fullness, as a blouse above a fitted waistband.

verb (used with object), bloused, blous·ing.

to dispose the material of a garment in loose folds, as trouser legs over the tops of boots.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of blouse

1820–30; <French, perhaps from the phrase *vêtement de laine blouse garment of short (i.e., uncarded, pure) wool; compare Provençal (lano) blouso pure (wool) <Old High German blōz naked, cognate with Old English bleat poor, miserable

OTHER WORDS FROM blouse

blouselike, adjectiveblous·y, adjectiveun·bloused, adjective

Words nearby blouse

blotchy, blot out, blotter, blotting paper, blotto, blouse, blouson, blousy, bloviate, blow, blow a fuse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use blouse in a sentence

The case was tried before a judge, who allowed the defendants to introduce evidence that Vinson wore “low-cut dresses,” “low-cut blouses” and “extremely tight pants.”
How U.S. Sexual-Harassment Law Encourages a Culture of Victim Blaming|Deborah Tuerkheimer|October 5, 2021|Time
There are some who are very happy working in their onesie at the kitchen table, enjoying the lack of commute, going for a run at lunch, and have no desire to don a blouse or shirt and head to the office.
‘Touchdown spaces’, blended meetings and proximity bias: businesses tackle practical realities of hybrid models|Jessica Davies|April 26, 2021|Digiday
One woman’s complaint that he groped her under her blouse was referred to local police.
Former lobbyist accuses Rep. Tom Reed, a potential Cuomo challenger, of sexual misconduct|Beth Reinhard|March 19, 2021|Washington Post
The Albany Times Union reported Wednesday that a woman, who has not been named, said the governor put his hand under her blouse and fondled her last year.
New York Assembly authorizes new probe of Cuomo sexual misconduct allegations|Michael Scherer|March 11, 2021|Washington Post

Wearing a blouse or suit as many times as possible gets the most bang for its environmental buck.
Thrift shopping is an environmental and ethical trap|Sara Kiley Watson|February 26, 2021|Popular-Science
Add a pop of color with a bright violet v-neck blouse from 3.1 Phillip Lim.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Carrie Bradshaw in Your Life|Allison McNearney|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I care more about chopping trees down than buying you that Yohji Yamamoto blouse as a surprise.
How Straight World Stole ‘Gay’: The Last Gasp of the ‘Lumbersexual’|Tim Teeman|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One worn over her head and showing her blouse means that she is not married and looking for a husband.
Shining a Spotlight on Mexico’s Iconic Textile—the Rebozo|Liza Foreman|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A young girl skateboards in a yellow silk blouse and black-and-white striped pants.
Meet the Mipsterz|Erin Cunningham|January 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I wasn't parading around to make a show of myself, I was trying to get my arm in my blouse to cover up.
British Aristocrat and Friend Strip Topless In Airport Security Protest, Captured on CCTV|Tom Sykes|November 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The door opened, and there, poorly dressed in blouse and skirt, stood Miss Anne.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
She was enveloped in a sky-blue satin gown, or rather, sort of blouse, ornamented all round with two rows of rich black blond.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
She had left her hat and coat in the hall, and wore a smart blue serge skirt and a white blouse.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
There was wisdom in this suggestion, so Jess accepted it gratefully, and even added Henry's blouse to the laundry.
The Box-Car Children|Gertrude Chandler Warner
She took off Benny's little crinkled blouse and one pair of bloomers, and started to hang them on the line.
The Box-Car Children|Gertrude Chandler Warner

British Dictionary definitions for blouse

blouse

/ (blaʊz) /

noun

a woman's shirtlike garment made of cotton, nylon, etc

a loose-fitting smocklike garment, often knee length and belted, worn esp by E European peasants

a loose-fitting waist-length belted jacket worn by soldiers

verb

to hang or make so as to hang in full loose folds

Word Origin for blouse

C19: from French, of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

blouse

Origin of blouse

OTHER WORDS FROM blouse

Words nearby blouse

Words related to blouse

How to use blouse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for blouse

Word Origin for blouse