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; see origin at dress, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Her refrigerator is full of iceberg lettuce, ranch dressing and Diet Coke.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt brought their A game, embracing method dressing without going overboard.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

While counterintuitive, there is an acute need for tailoring even in the current age of casual dressing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Instead, the trailers focus on Miranda’s withering put-downs and Andy’s former fashion-deficient way of dressing.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

“Oh, yes. You’re right. It’s perfect. You’ll look so pretty up there onstage. Run to the dressing room and try it on.”

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

Related Words

• filling
• stuffing