full-dress

[foo l-dres]

See more synonyms for full-dress on Thesaurus.com

adjective

formal and complete in all details: a full-dress uniform.
done or presented completely or thoroughly.

Origin of full-dress

First recorded in 1755–65

full dress

noun

the formal attire customarily worn in the evening, usually consisting of black tailcoats and white bow ties for men, and floor-length dresses for women.
a ceremonial style of dress.

Origin of full dress

First recorded in 1755–65

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for full-dress

dressy, elegant, fancy, fashionable, grand, smart, stylish, all-out, careful, complete, exhaustive, important, thoroughgoing

Examples from the Web for full-dress

Contemporary Examples of full-dress

The house, like every obvious manifestation of Palmer, is ready for a full-dress inspection.
Will the Real Jim Palmer Please Stand Up
Tom Boswell
September 27, 2014

Historical Examples of full-dress

The full-dress visits to the King on his 'debotter' were continued.
Memoirs Of The Court Of Marie Antoinette, Queen Of France, Complete
Madame Campan
Then he grimly changed his garments for the full-dress uniform of the Med Service.
Pariah Planet
Murray Leinster
All appeared in full-dress uniform, and a bountiful collation was served.
As I Remember
Marian Gouverneur
"Some night you must put on your full-dress suit too," she whispered.
Rich Man, Poor Man
Maximilian Foster
Titus and Breckenridge each glanced at a new, full-dress sword.
Notes of a War Correspondent
Richard Harding Davis

British Dictionary definitions for full-dress

full dress

noun

1. a formal or ceremonial style of dress, such as white tie and tails for a man and a full-length evening dress for a woman
2. (as modifier)full-dress uniform

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