dressing

noun

dress·​ing ˈdre-siŋ 

1

a

: the act or process of one who dresses

b

: an instance of such act or process

2

a

: a sauce for adding to a dish (such as a salad)

b

: a seasoned mixture usually used as a stuffing (as for poultry)

3

a

: material (such as ointment or gauze) applied to cover a lesion or wound

b

: fertilizing material (such as manure or compost)

Synonyms

• cataplasm
• plaster
• poultice

Examples of dressing in a Sentence

We had turkey with dressing and potatoes for dinner.

The nurse cleaned the cut and applied a dressing.

Recent Examples on the Web

This ultra-luxury rooftop bar serves a Thai-Mediterranean menu featuring dishes like arancini with Phuket crab truffle purée, Tasmanian salmon ceviche with tamari seaweed salad, and Parma ham skewers with arugula and mango dressing. —Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025

And the confusion comes at a time when society seems to be favoring modest dressing as fashionable. —Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 25 May 2025

Foley Fork Also called a blending fork, this handy utensil was used to mash potatoes, blend fats into flour, beat eggs, stir sauces, and whisk dressings. —Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 24 May 2025

At a tunnel walk typically filled with sneakers and athletic staples, Caitlin Clark’s choice of pointed-toe slingbacks introduced a luxe sensibility to game-day dressing. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 23 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing dressing

• cross-dressing
• dressing-down
• dressing glass
• dressing gown
• dressing room
• dressing table
• French dressing
• house (salad) dressing
• Italian dressing
• ore dressing
• ranch dressing
• Russian dressing
• salad dressing
• side dressing
• Thousand Island dressing
• top dressing
• window dressing

Rhymes for dressing

• blessing
• guessing
• messing
• pressing
• stressing
• accessing
• addressing
• assessing
• caressing
• compressing
• confessing
• depressing

Kids Definition

dressing

noun

dress·​ing ˈdres-iŋ 

1

a

: the act or process of one that dresses

b

: an instance of dressing

2

a

: a sauce for adding to a dish

b

: a seasoned mixture used as a stuffing (as for poultry) or baked and served separately

3

a

: material (as ointment or gauze) used to cover an injury

b

: fertilizing material (as manure or compost)

Medical Definition

dressing

noun

dress·​ing -iŋ 

: a covering (as of ointment or gauze) applied to a lesion