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dressing

dressing

8 1.0
A sauce like vinaigrette or a creamy one used on salads
  • noun
  • /ˈdrɛsɪŋ/
translation icon : aderezo
  • Could I please order a chicken Caesar salad with the dressing on the side?
  • salad dressing

Mustard steak sauce, ranch dressing, hot sauce and BBQ sauce.

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Examples

  • Yes, every good salad needs a dressing, and I think it's this.

  • A nice little drizzle of dressing, a little bit of olive oil.

  • What dressing do I get on my salad?

  • We had more ranch dressing, but you could add salsa if you want.

  • You also have the traditional salad dressings to choose from to finish off your salad bowl creation.

    Blog text (20)
  • I eat salads with chicken and quinoa and avocado and sriracha dressing to spice up my lunch hour.

  • In general, 48 percent of people prefer creamy salad dressings over oily salad dressings.

    Blog text (11)
  • What type of dressing would you like for your salad?

  • I prefer vinaigrette as a dressing for my mixed greens.

  • This restaurant offers a variety of dressing options, including ranch and balsamic.

Synonyms

vinaigrette
vsdressing
28 3.3

A salad dressing made from oil and vinegar, often with mustard or garlic

is one main oil‑and‑vinegar type among the general sauce choices
salad dressing
vsdressing
13 1.0

A cold sauce like oil and vinegar or ranch that adds flavor to fresh vegetables

is the general word for sauces used on mixed greens
Italian dressing
vsdressing
  • US
2 2.4

A thin sauce for salad made with oil, vinegar, garlic, and herbs like oregano

is a regional herb‑flavored variant of the oil‑and‑vinegar sauces
2 2.8

A creamy sauce that has blue cheese and mayonnaise or sour cream

is the strong cheese‑flavored creamy option versus oil‑based ones
Russian dressing
vsdressing
  • US
2 3.5

A creamy sauce for salads and sandwiches made from mayonnaise, horseradish, onion, and ketchup

is a spicy mayonnaise‑heavy option unlike simple oil‑and‑vinegar sauces
French dressing
vsdressing
1 1.9

A salad sauce of oil and vinegar often mixed with mustard and garlic

is a typical oil‑and‑vinegar flavored option among such sauces
Roquefort dressing
vsdressing
1 5.9

Salad dressing made with vinaigrette and crumbled Roquefort blue cheese

is an oil‑and‑vinegar sauce that adds cheese rather than full cream
sauce vinaigrette
vsdressing
3.4

A cold dressing of oil and vinegar with mustard and garlic

is a specific oil‑and‑vinegar preparation within the broader sauce category
salad cream
vsdressing
  • UK
3.0

A smooth, tangy, creamy dressing like mayonnaise used on salads and sandwiches

is the creamy rather than oil‑based option among the sauces
anchovy dressing
vsdressing
4.1

A salad sauce that mixes oil and vinegar with mashed anchovies to make it salty

adds strong fishy umami, differing from mild creamy or plain oil sauces
half-and-half dressing
vsdressing
  • US
5.8

A salad dressing made from equal parts mayonnaise and vinaigrette with garlic and cheese

is a mixed creamy and oil version rather than purely one style

Compounds

133 1.8

A room where people change clothes, for example in a shop or theatre

A cold sauce like oil and vinegar or ranch that adds flavor to fresh vegetables

8 2.8

A long loose robe you wear over night clothes before getting dressed or while relaxing at home

window dressing
  • Informal
8 5.6

An action that makes something look better than it really is to hide problems

A low table with a mirror for doing hair and makeup

Wearing clothes usually worn by the opposite sex

A creamy sauce that has blue cheese and mayonnaise or sour cream

2 2.4

A thin sauce for salad made with oil, vinegar, garlic, and herbs like oregano

2 3.5

A creamy sauce for salads and sandwiches made from mayonnaise, horseradish, onion, and ketchup

dressing station
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A place near the front line where wounded people get first aid

A salad sauce of oil and vinegar often mixed with mustard and garlic

A display of items in a shop window to attract customers

dressing down
  • Informal
1 6.1

A severe scolding from someone in charge, often in front of other people

dressing-down
  • Informal
1 7.7

A strong angry talk that tells someone they did something wrong

Salad dressing made with vinaigrette and crumbled Roquefort blue cheese

1 6.4

A side dish or filling made with oysters, bread, and simple vegetables

A creamy sauce for salads and sandwiches made from mayonnaise and chopped pickles

A creamy salad dressing made with crumbled blue cheese

dressing case
  • Archaic
7.5

A small box for keeping brushes, bottles, and toiletries when you travel

dressing sack
  • Archaic
9.6

A loose informal jacket women wear at home while dressing

dressing sacque
  • Archaic
9.9

A loose jacket women wear while getting dressed

A salad sauce that mixes oil and vinegar with mashed anchovies to make it salty

A spicy salad sauce made with chili sauce and chopped watercress

A clean piece of cloth or pad placed over a wound to protect it

mineral dressing
  • Specialized
7.5

A process of crushing and separating rock to get useful minerals

A salad dressing made from equal parts mayonnaise and vinaigrette with garlic and cheese

ore dressing
  • Specialized
7.7

The process of crushing and separating ore to get useful metals

surgical dressing
  • Specialized
3.4

A clean pad of cotton or gauze that covers a wound after surgery to protect it

top dressing
  • Specialized
5.4

A thin layer of compost or fertilizer spread on top of soil to help plants grow without mixing it in

How Thick

salad cream
  • UK
3.0
dressing
8 1.0
vinaigrette
28 3.3

Surface Forms

dressing singular
dressings plural

Morphology

dressing = dress (transparent) = dress + ing

Salad 'dressing' is something that 'dresses' (seasons or dresses up) a salad; the derivation from the verb is straightforward.

Etymology

Dressing comes from the verb dress, which once meant 'to make ready'. A salad is 'dressed' when you add a sauce, so dressing is the sauce that makes the salad ready to eat.