dressing

American  

[dres-ing] / ˈdrɛs ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that dresses.

2. a sauce for food.

   salad dressing.

3. stuffing for a fowl.

   turkey dressing.

4. material used to dress or cover a wound.

5. manure, compost, or other fertilizers.

6. the ornamental detail of a building, especially that around openings.

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dressing British  

/ ˈdrɛsɪŋ /

noun

1. a sauce for food, esp for salad

2. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): stuffing.  a mixture of chopped and seasoned ingredients with which poultry, meat, etc, is stuffed before cooking

3. a covering for a wound, sore, etc

4. manure or artificial fertilizer spread on land

5. size used for stiffening textiles

6. the processes in the conversion of certain rough tanned hides into leather ready for use

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Etymology

Origin of dressing

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at dress, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Of her culture, she explains, “Part of your presentation — of dressing up — is your scent.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

For example, 18th-century cleric and founder of Methodism John Wesley urged his followers to show their faith by dressing “neatly” and “plainly.”

From Salon • May 17, 2026

In Silicon Valley, where dressing down is the ultimate symbol of tech’s disruptive power, nearly every executive who took the stand donned suits and ties.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

I also saw the prevalence of streetwear and the way women were dressing at the time.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

She throws one into a bin and grumbles, “How do we have three bottles of expired salad dressing in here?”

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan

Related Words

• filling
• stuffing