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; dress, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

“An Awfully Big Adventure” follows 16-year-old Stella Bradshaw into the dim hallways and bustling dressing rooms of a popular playhouse in 1950s Liverpool, England.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

"I guarantee after these astronauts fly around the moon, you're going to have more kids dressing up as astronauts for Halloween," Isaacman said during a recent television interview.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

With guest quarters, a private dressing area, and garage parking for four or more cars, this is truly a legacy property unlike any other.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

Forest made their hosts wait on the pitch almost four minutes before emerging for the second half, Tottenham will have wished they had stayed in the dressing room.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

“I’m dressing up as a musician,” Madge says.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

Related Words

• filling
• stuffing