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Glite Dictionary
long underwear

long underwear

5 2.2
Warm clothing that covers the arms and legs and is worn under other clothes
  • noun
  • /lɔŋ ˈʌndərˌwɛr/
  • US
translation icon : ropa interior larga
  • When I was a kid, you made me wear long underwear to school.
  • wear long underwear
  • a pair of long underwear
  • synthetic long underwear

So if you guys watch my sweaty girl hack, I need to pack my long underwear.

Examples

  • Get a really good set of long underwear and some wool socks.

    Blog text (22)

  • One morning, Fenton's uncle came out of his tent barefoot, in his long underwear, with his eyes vacant.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The other day when it was so cold, a friend went to buy some long underwear.

    Mary Poppins (1964)

  • A first layer of quality thermal long underwear is a major help in staying warm.

    Academic text (1994)

  • I had long underwear on under my suit, but I could still feel my legs numbing up.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • They tell me Kelton wears long underwear, winter and summer.

    The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937)

  • Benson stripped down to his long underwear and leaped into the water, the shock of it a blow to his body.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Evastina was surprised to see Heiberg out of bed, standing near the stove in nothing but his long underwear.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Underneath, they wore black button-up sweaters, flannel shirts, and long underwear.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • On chilly winter mornings, I always wear my long underwear to keep warm.

Synonyms

long johns
vslong underwear
6 2.4

Warm underwear with long legs worn under clothes in cold weather

covers both arms and legs rather than focusing mainly on leg coverage
union suit
vslong underwear
  • Archaic
1 9.1

One-piece underwear with long sleeves and legs that you wear to keep warm

is the general term for warm undergarments usually worn as one piece

Antonyms

shorts
1 1.0

Underwear for men that covers the hips and bottom

How Warm

thermal
106 4.4
long underwear
  • US
5 2.2
underwear
507 1.0
briefs
1.5

Surface Forms

long underwear singular
long underwears plural

Morphology

long + underwear

The meaning 'a warm undergarment that covers the arms and legs' is directly compositional from 'long' (extending in length) + 'underwear' (garments worn next to the skin). This adjective+noun combination follows a basic, cross-linguistic pattern, so an average B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The noun long underwear comes from a simple description: underwear that is long and covers the arms and legs. Because it covers much of the body, it 'keeps you warm', so the name tells you its use.