DRESSING
dressing, bandaging, binding
(noun) the act of applying a bandage
dressing, grooming
(noun) the activity of getting dressed; putting on clothes
dressing
(noun) processes in the conversion of rough hides into leather
dressing, medical dressing
(noun) a cloth covering for a wound or sore
fertilization, fertilisation, fecundation, dressing
(noun) making fertile as by applying fertilizer or manure
stuffing, dressing
(noun) a mixture of seasoned ingredients used to stuff meats and vegetables
dressing, salad dressing
(noun) savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Noun
dressing (countable and uncountable, plural dressings)
(medicine) Material applied to a wound for protection or therapy.
A sauce, especially a cold one for salads.
Something added to the soil as a fertilizer etc.
The activity of getting dressed.
(obsolete) Dress; raiment; especially, ornamental habiliment or attire.
The stuffing of fowls, pigs, etc.; forcemeat.
Gum, starch, etc, used in stiffening or finishing silk, linen, and other fabrics.
An ornamental finish, such as a moulding around doors, windows, or on a ceiling.
(dated) Castigation; scolding; dressing down.
(dated) the process of extracting metals or other valuable components from minerals
Etymology 2
Verb
dressing
present participle of dress
Source: Wiktionary
Dress"ing, n.
1. Dress; raiment; especially, ornamental habiliment or attire. B.
Jonson.
2. (Surg.)
Definition: An application (a remedy, bandage, etc.) to a sore or wound.
Wiseman.
3. Manure or compost over land. When it remains on the surface, it is
called a top-dressing.
4. (Cookery)
(a) A preparation to fit food for use; a condiment; as, a dressing
for salad.
(b) The stuffing of fowls, pigs, etc.; forcemeat.
5. Gum, starch, and the like, used in stiffening or finishing silk,
linen, and other fabrics.
6. An ornamental finish, as a molding around doors, windows, or on a
ceiling, etc.
7. Castigation; scolding; -- often with down. [Colloq.] Dressing
case, a case of toilet utensils.
– Dressing forceps, a variety of forceps, shaped like a pair of
scissors, used in dressing wounds.
– Dressing gown, a light gown, such as is used by a person while
dressing; a study gown.
– Dressing room, an apartment appropriated for making one's toilet.
– Dressing table, a table at which a person may dress, and on which
articles for the toilet stand.
– Top-dressing, manure or compost spread over land and not worked
into the soil.
DRESS
Dress, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dressed or Drest; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dressing.] Etym: [OF. drecier to make straight, raise, set up,
prepare, arrange, F. dresser. (assumed) LL. directiare, fr. L.
dirigere, directum, to direct; dis- + regere to rule. See Right, and
cf. Address, Adroit, Direct, Dirge.]
1. To direct; to put right or straight; to regulate; to order. [Obs.]
At all times thou shalt bless God and pray Him to dress thy ways.
Chaucer.
Note: Dress is used reflexively in Old English, in sense of "to
direct one's step; to addresss one's self."
To Grisild again will I me dresse. Chaucer.
2. (Mil.)
Definition: To arrange in exact continuity of line, as soldiers; commonly
to adjust to a straight line and at proper distance; to align; as, to
dress the ranks.
3. (Med.)
Definition: To treat methodically with remedies, bandages, or curative
appliances, as a sore, an ulcer, a wound, or a wounded or diseased
part.
4. To adjust; to put in good order; to arrange; specifically: (a) To
prepare for use; to fit for any use; to render suitable for an
intended purpose; to get ready; as, to dress a slain animal; to dress
meat; to dress leather or cloth; to dress or trim a lamp; to dress a
garden; to dress a horse, by currying and rubbing; to dress grain, by
cleansing it; in mining and metallurgy, to dress ores, by sorting and
separating them.
And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to
dress it. Gen. ii. 15.
When he dresseth the lamps he shall burn incense. Ex. xxx. 7.
Three hundred horses . . . smoothly dressed. Dryden.
Dressing their hair with the white sea flower. Tennyson
.
If he felt obliged to expostulate, he might have dressed his censures
in a kinder form. Carlyle.
(b) To cut to proper dimensions, or give proper shape to, as to a
tool by hammering; also, to smooth or finish.
(c) To put in proper condition by appareling, as the body; to put
clothes upon; to apparel; to invest with garments or rich
decorations; to clothe; to deck.
Dressed myself in such humility. Shak.
Prove that ever Idress myself handsome till thy return. Shak.
(d) To break and train for use, as a horse or other animal. To dress
up or out, to dress elaborately, artificially, or pompously. "You see
very often a king of England or France dressed up like a Julius
Cæsar." Addison.
– To dress a ship (Naut.), to ornament her by hoisting the national
colors at the peak and mastheads, and setting the jack forward; when
dressed full, the signal flags and pennants are added. Ham. Nav.
Encyc.
Syn.
– To attire; apparel; clothe; accouter; array; robe; rig; trim;
deck; adorn; embellish.
Dress, v. i.
1. (Mil.)
Definition: To arrange one's self in due position in a line of soldiers; --
the word of command to form alignment in ranks; as, Right, dress!
2. To clothe or apparel one's self; to put on one's garments; to pay
particular regard to dress; as, to dress quickly. "To dress for a
ball." Latham.
To flaunt, to dress, to dance, to thrum. Tennyson
. To dress to the right, To dress to the left, To dress on the center
(Mil.), to form alignment with reference to the soldier on the
extreme right, or in the center, of the rank, who serves as a guide.
Dress, n.
1. That which is used as the covering or ornament of the body;
clothes; garments; habit; apparel. "In your soldier's dress." Shak.
2. A lady's gown; as, silk or a velvet dress.
3. Attention to apparel, or skill in adjusting it.
Men of pleasure, dress, and gallantry. Pope.
4. (Milling)
Definition: The system of furrows on the face of a millstone. Knight. Dress
circle. See under Circle.
– Dress parade (Mil.), a parade in full uniform for review.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition