Definition

1. Noun:

   • Clothing, especially of a distinctive or formal kind: "Attire" refers to clothes, garments, or dress, often implying a particular style, quality, or suitability for a specific occasion or role.

2. Verb:

   • To dress, clothe, or array, especially in fine or special garments: "Attire" means to put clothes on someone or oneself, typically with a sense of adornment or preparation for a specific purpose.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:

  • The gala requires formal attire.
  • He was dressed in traditional Scottish attire.
  • The store sells wedding attire for the bride and groom.

• Verb:

  • The queen was attired in a magnificent gown.
  • They attired the actors in authentic historical costumes.
  • She attired herself carefully for the job interview.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "In full attire": wearing complete or ceremonial dress.
  • The guards stood at attention in full ceremonial attire.
• "To attire oneself in": a formal way to say "to dress in."
  • He attired himself in his best suit for the occasion.

Variants and Related Words

• Attired (adj.): Describes someone who is dressed in a particular way.
  • The well-attired gentleman entered the room.
• Reattire (v.): To dress again or change clothes.
  • The actor had to reattire for the next scene.

Synonyms

• Noun: Clothing, garments, dress, garb, apparel, outfit, costume, raiment (archaic/formal).
• Verb: To dress, to clothe, to garb, to array, to robe, to deck out.

Antonyms

• Verb: To undress, to disrobe, to strip.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• "Sunday best attire" (or "Sunday best"): One's finest clothes, typically worn for formal events or religious services.
  • The family was dressed in their Sunday best attire for the wedding.
• "Work attire": Clothing suitable for one's job or workplace.
  • The office has a strict policy on professional work attire.

Noun

1. clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
   • formal attire
   • battle dress

Verb

1. put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive
   • She never dresses up, even when she goes to the opera
   • The young girls were all fancied up for the party