3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Dress  \Dress\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Dressed}or  {Drest};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Dressing}.]  [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  address  one's  self.'' 
 
  To  Grisild  again  will  I  me  dresse.  --Chaucer. 
 
  2.  (Mil.)  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.)  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 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Dressing  \Dress"ing\,  n. 
  1.  Dress;  raiment;  especially,  ornamental  habiliment  or 
  attire.  --B.  Jonson 
 
  2.  (Surg.)  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  dressing 
  n  1:  savory  dressings  for  salads;  basically  of  two  kinds:  either 
  the  thin  French  or  vinaigrette  type  or  the  creamy 
  mayonnaise  type  [syn:  {salad  dressing}] 
  2:  a  mixture  of  seasoned  ingredients  used  to  stuff  meats  and 
  vegetables  [syn:  {stuffing}] 
  3:  making  fertile  as  by  applying  fertilizer  or  manure  [syn:  {fertilization}, 
  {fecundation}] 
  4:  a  covering  for  a  wound  or  sore  [syn:  {medical  dressing}] 
  5:  processes  in  the  conversion  of  rough  hides  into  leather 
  6:  the  activity  of  getting  dressed  [syn:  {grooming}] 
  7:  the  act  of  applying  a  bandage  [syn:  {bandaging},  {binding}] 

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