evening dress
7
3.4
- noun
- /ˈiːv.nɪŋ drɛs/
- And I have a lovely evening dress with yards of skirt and way off the shoulder.
- a black evening dress
- wore an evening dress
- silk evening dresses
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Watch on YouTubeI think it's a great little day dress, evening dress.
- I think it's a great little day dress, evening dress.
Examples
-
For Romy, there is an evening dress of pale sage crushed velvet.
Fiction book (1997) -
And the ladies in beautiful evening dresses!
-
Wearing this evening dress, you will become the focus as well as a star.
Blog text (13) -
Several people were in evening dress.
Fiction book (1997) -
She's wearing an evening dress, sir.
-
"Tomorrow night he is taking me to a very fashionable charity ball, "and I have an evening dress just for the occasion.
-
Vivian comes out of the bedroom into the living room wearing an elegant red sequined evening dress.
Fiction book (1990) -
Mrs. Lockhart, who had changed into a low-cut black evening dress, had declined refreshment.
Fiction book (1999) -
The man, Xander, wore evening dress, a tuxedo, and a silk shirt with a tunic collar.
Fiction book (1998) -
She arrived at the gala wearing a stunning evening dress that caught everyone's attention.
Synonyms
206
2.5
A long formal robe like those worn at graduations or in court
38
1.0
A dress that is black and often worn for formal or special occasions
16
2.7
A long formal dress that women wear to evening parties or special events
12
3.3
A short elegant dress for women to wear at evening events
10
3.5
A long formal dress worn by women to very special events like balls
8
3.3
A simple black dress to wear to many events like a party or dinner
1
3.4
A formal long gown worn to evening events like dinners
1
2.7
A formal, stylish dress worn for special events
1
4.1
A long elegant dress that women wear to formal dances
1
4.2
A formal dress worn to evening events, especially dinners
A formal dress a woman wears to a ball or gala
How Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a formal dress worn for evening events' is directly derivable from combining 'evening' (the time of day/events then) with 'dress' (a garment), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a dress for the evening. This time + noun compound is a common, compositional pattern across languages, making the expression immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Evening dress comes from the simple idea of a dress worn in the evening, when people put on fancier clothes for night events. That's why it means 'a formal dress for evening social events'.