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Clothes vs Dressing - What's the difference?

clothes | dressing |

In obsolete terms the difference between clothes and dressing

is that clothes is plural of lang=en while dressing is dress; raiment; especially, ornamental habiliment or attire.

As nouns the difference between clothes and dressing

is that clothes is items of clothing; apparel while dressing is material applied to a wound for protection or therapy.

As verbs the difference between clothes and dressing

is that clothes is third-person singular of clothe while dressing is present participle of lang=en.

clothes

English

Etymology 1

(etyl)

Noun

(head)
  • (plural only) Items of clothing; apparel.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=6 citation , passage=Even in an era when individuality in dress is a cult, his clothes were noticeable. He was wearing a hard hat of the low round kind favoured by hunting men, and with it a black duffle-coat lined with white.}}
  • (obsolete) .
  • The covering of a bed; bedclothes.
  • * Prior
    • She turned each way her frighted head, / Then sunk it deep beneath the clothes .
    Derived terms
    (terms derived from "clothes") * bedclothes * clotheshorse * clothesline * clothes moth * clothes-peg * clothes peg * clothespin * clotehspress * swaddling clothes * swathing clothes

    See also

    * clothing * gear * threads

    Etymology 2

    Verb

    (head)
  • (clothe)
    • English pluralia tantum 1000 English basic words

    dressing

    English

    (wikipedia dressing)

    Noun

  • (medicine) Material applied to a wound for protection or therapy.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1913, author=
    • , title=Lord Stranleigh Abroad , chapter=5 citation , passage=She removed Stranleigh’s coat with a dexterity that aroused his imagination. The elder woman returned with dressings and a sponge, which she placed on a chair.}}
  • A sauce, especially a cold one for salads.
  • Something added to the soil as a fertilizer etc.
  • The activity of getting dressed.
  • * 2004 , Kathryn Banks, ?Joseph Harris, Exposure: Revealing Bodies, Unveiling Representations (page 182)
    • Considered thus, the performance is a translation into images of bodies on display, as is well demonstrated by Monsieur Jourdain's repeated dressings and undressings.
  • (obsolete) Dress; raiment; especially, ornamental habiliment or attire.
    • (Ben Jonson)
  • 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.

    • Derived terms

    * dressing gown * dressing stick

    Verb

    (head)
    • ----