dress-down

[ dres-doun ]
/ ˈdrɛsˌdaʊn /

adjective

pertaining to or being a policy that allows employees to dress less formally than usual: dress-down days during the summer.

Definition for dress down (2 of 2)

Origin of dress

1275–1325; Middle English dressen < Anglo-French dresser, dresc(i)er, to arrange, prepare, Old French drecier < Vulgar Latin *dīrēctiāre, derivative of Latin dīrēctus direct; noun use of v. in sense “attire” from circa 1600

SYNONYMS FOR dress

1 frock.
2 raiment, attire, clothes, habit, garments, vestments, habiliments.

synonym study for dress

1. Dress, costume, gown refer to garments for women. Dress is the general term for a garment: a black dress. Costume is used of the style of dress appropriate to some occasion, purpose, period, or character, especially as used on the stage, at balls, at court, or the like, and may apply to men's garments as well: an 18th-century costume. Gown is usually applied to a dress more expensive and elegant than the ordinary, usually long, to be worn on a special occasion: a wedding gown.

OTHER WORDS FROM dress

half-dressed, adjective out·dress, verb (used with object)

British Dictionary definitions for dress down (1 of 2)

dress down

verb (adverb)

(tr) informal to reprimand severely or scold (a person)
(intr) to dress in a casual or informal manner, esp at work

British Dictionary definitions for dress down (2 of 2)

dress
/ (drɛs) /

verb

noun

See also dress down, dress up

Word Origin for dress

C14: from Old French drecier, ultimately from Latin dīrigere to direct

Medical definitions for dress down

dress
[ drĕs ]

v.

To apply medication, bandages, or other therapeutic materials to an area of the body such as a wound.

Idioms and Phrases with dress down

dress down

1

Scold, reprimand, as in The sergeant will dress down the entire unit. In the 15th century the verb dress alone was used in the sense of “punish,” down being added several centuries later. It also gave rise to the noun dressing down for punishment with blows or words. For example, The teacher gave the girls a severe dressing down.

2

Wear informal clothes, as in It's best to dress down for a party like a barbecue. [Mid-1900s] For the antonym, see dress up.