costume

[ noun kos-toom, -tyoom; verb ko-stoom, -styoom ]

noun

1. a style of dress, including accessories and hairdos, especially that peculiar to a nation, region, group, or historical period.
2. dress or garb characteristic of another period, place, person, etc., as worn on the stage or at balls.
3. fashion of dress appropriate to a particular occasion or season:

   dancing costume; winter costume.

4. a set of garments, especially women's garments, selected for wear at a single time; outfit; ensemble.

verb (used with object)

, cos·tumed, cos·tum·ing.

1. to dress; furnish with a costume; provide appropriate dress for:

   to costume a play.

adjective

1. of or characterized by the wearing of costumes:

   a costume party.

2. meant for use with or appropriate to a specific costume:

   costume accessories.

costume

/ ˈkɒstjuːm /

noun

1. a complete style of dressing, including all the clothes, accessories, etc, worn at one time, as in a particular country or period; dress

   national costume

2. old-fashioned.
   a woman's suit
3. a set of clothes, esp unusual or period clothes, worn in a play by an actor or at a fancy dress ball

   a jester's costume

4. short for swimming costume

verb

1. to furnish the costumes for (a show, film, etc)
2. to dress (someone) in a costume

Other Words From

• recos·tume verb (used with object) recostumed recostuming
• un·costumed adjective
• well-costumed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of costume¹

1705–15; < French < Italian: usage, habit, dress; doublet of custom

Word History and Origins

Origin of costume¹

C18: from French, from Italian: dress, habit, custom

Synonym Study

See dress.

Example Sentences

The footage drew suspicion from investigators with the California Department of Insurance, who after executing a search warrant, found a bear costume in the suspects’ home.

From BBC

"Upon further scrutiny of the video, the investigation determined the bear was actually a person in a bear costume," the department said in a press release.

From BBC

Except it wasn’t a terrifying beast — it was a person in a bear costume using a kitchen tool designed to shred meat, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times

On Wednesday, detectives executed a search and arrest warrant and discovered the costume and claws.

From Los Angeles Times

A bear costume with meat claws was discovered in the suspects’ home on Wednesday, according to the insurance department.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apparel
• attire
• dress
• ensemble
• fashion
• garb
• getup
• style
• suit
• uniform
• wardrobe