gown

[goun]

noun

1. a woman's dress or robe, especially one that is full-length.

   Synonyms: frock

2. nightgown.

3. dressing gown.

4. evening gown.

5. a loose, flowing outer garment in any of various forms, worn by a man or woman as distinctive of office, profession, or status.

   an academic gown.

6. the student and teaching body in a university or college town.

verb (used with object)

1. to dress in a gown.

gown

/ ɡaʊn /

noun

1. any of various outer garments, such as a woman's elegant or formal dress, a dressing robe, or a protective garment, esp one worn by surgeons during operations

2. a loose wide garment indicating status, such as worn by academics

3. the members of a university as opposed to the other residents of the university town Compare town

verb

1. (tr) to supply with or dress in a gown

Other Word Forms

• ungowned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gown¹

1300–50; Middle English goune < Old French < Late Latin gunna fur or leather garment

Word History and Origins

Origin of gown¹

C14: from Old French goune, from Late Latin gunna garment made of leather or fur, of Celtic origin

Idioms and Phrases

see cap and gown; town and gown.

Synonym Study

See dress.

Example Sentences

The pictures show a pallid, hollow-eyed man, resembling Poe, who’s sitting by the fire in his dressing gown when there comes a gentle “rapping, rapping” at the door.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

"One day he would be wearing the full gown, to the floor and the next jeans and pyjama bottoms."

Read more on BBC

The High Court ruled Medpro failed to prove whether or not its surgical gowns, which were to be used by NHS workers, had undergone a validated sterilisation process.

Read more on BBC

The Department of Health and Social Care sued PPE Medpro over claims the medical gowns it supplied did not comply with relevant healthcare standards.

Read more on BBC

They feature ball gowns, shimmering crowns and even a court of close family and friends.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• costume 
• frock 
• garb 
• garment