Definition

1. Verb:
   • To provide someone with garments; to dress: The primary meaning refers to the act of putting clothes on a person's body.
   • To cover something as if with a garment: To adorn or envelop something, giving the appearance of being dressed.
   • To endow or furnish with a particular quality, attribute, or authority: A more figurative usage meaning to invest or imbue with something.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to dress):
  • It is a parent's duty to feed and clothe their children.
  • She quickly clothed herself and left for work.
• Verb (to cover):
  • In spring, the hills are clothed in wildflowers.
  • Fog clothed the valley in a thick, gray blanket.
• Verb (to endow):
  • The new constitution clothed the citizens with fundamental rights.
  • He was clothed with the authority to make final decisions.

Advanced Usage

• "to be clothed in": To be dressed in a particular material or color; or to be covered/characterized by something.
  • The queen was clothed in velvet and silk.
  • His speech was clothed in diplomatic language.
• "to clothe one's thoughts in words": A figurative expression meaning to express one's ideas verbally.
  • She struggled to clothe her complex feelings in words.

Variants and Related Words

• Clothed (adj.): Wearing clothes; covered.
  • The warmly clothed hikers braved the cold.
• Clothing (n.): Garments collectively; clothes.
  • This store sells outdoor clothing.
• Clothier (n.): A person or company that makes or sells clothes.
  • He visited the local clothier for a new suit.

Synonyms

• Dress: To put clothes on.
• Attire: To dress, especially in fine or formal clothes.
• Adorn: To decorate or add beauty to (closer to the 'cover' sense).
• Invest: To provide with power or authority (closer to the figurative sense).

Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed through the simple verb with prepositions like "in" or "with.")

Related Idioms

• Clothed and in one's right mind: In a sane, rational, and proper state. (Often used in a biblical or formal context).
  • After the accident, they were just happy to see him clothed and in his right mind.

Verb

1. cover as if with clothing
   • the mountain was clothed in tropical trees
2. furnish with power or authority; of kings or emperors
3. provide with clothes or put clothes on
   • Parents must feed and dress their child