costume

/'kɔstju:m/

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Word: Costume

Part of Speech: Noun and Verb

Definition:

A costume is a special set of clothes that people wear to represent a certain style, time, place, or character. Costumes are often worn during celebrations, performances, or themed events.

Usage Instructions:

• As a Noun: It refers to the clothing itself.
• As a Verb: It means to provide someone with costumes or to dress up in a costume.

Examples:

1. Noun: "For Halloween, I wore a pirate costume."
2. Verb: "We decided to costume the actors in historical outfits for the play."

Advanced Usage:

In theater or film, a costume can be crucial for creating the right atmosphere and helping the audience understand the character's role. For example, "The director wanted to costume the actors in 1920s fashion to reflect the historical period of the story."

Word Variants:

• Costumed (adjective): Describes someone who is dressed in a costume. "The costumed performers entertained the crowd."
• Costuming (noun): The art of designing and making costumes for performers. "She studied costuming in college."

Different Meanings:

1. Cultural Costume: Refers to traditional clothing that represents a specific culture, such as a national costume. For example, "She wore her national costume during the festival."
2. Fancy Dress Costume: Worn for parties or events where people dress up in a specific theme, like Halloween or a masquerade ball.

Synonyms:

• Outfit
• Attire
• Garb
• Clothing
• Dress

Idioms:

• "To be in costume": Means to be dressed in a costume for a performance or event.
  • Example: "The actors were all in costume, ready for the show to start."

Phrasal Verbs:

• "Dress up": To put on formal or special clothes, often for an occasion.
  • Example: "We love to dress up for Halloween and wear creative costumes."

Summary:

A costume can be a fun way to express creativity and celebrate different cultures or time periods.

Academic

Noun

1. the attire characteristic of a country or a time or a social class
   • he wore his national costume
2. the prevalent fashion of dress (including accessories and hair style as well as garments)
3. unusual or period attire not characteristic of or appropriate to the time and place
   • in spite of the heat he insisted on his woolen costume
4. the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
   • he won the prize for best costume

Verb

1. furnish with costumes; as for a film or play
2. dress in a costume
   • We dressed up for Halloween as pumpkins

Synonyms

• dress up