dressing-table

A woman sits at her dressing-table to brush her hair.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A piece of furniture: A "dressing-table" is a low table or piece of furniture, typically equipped with a mirror and drawers, used for applying makeup, arranging hair, or other personal grooming activities. It is often found in a bedroom or dressing room.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She sat at her dressing-table to apply her makeup before the party. (A table with a mirror used for grooming.)
  • The antique dressing-table had three drawers and an oval mirror. (A furniture item for personal care.)

Advanced Usage

• "to sit at a dressing-table": to use the furniture for personal grooming.

  • Every morning, she sits at her dressing-table to brush her hair. (She uses the table for grooming.)

• "a dressing-table set": a collection of matching items, such as a brush, comb, and mirror, placed on the dressing-table.

  • She received a silver dressing-table set as a wedding gift. (A coordinated grooming kit for the table.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dresser (n): a piece of furniture with drawers, often with a mirror, used for storing clothes and grooming items; in American English, "dresser" can be synonymous with "dressing-table."

  • He kept his shirts in the top drawer of the dresser. (A storage and grooming furniture piece.)

• Vanity (n): a dressing-table, especially one with a mirror and often used for makeup application.

  • The actress's vanity was covered with perfume bottles. (A dressing-table for personal grooming.)

Synonyms

• Vanity table: a table with a mirror used for grooming.
• Makeup table: a table specifically for applying cosmetics.
• Grooming table: a general term for a table used for personal care.

Related Idioms

• "at one's dressing-table": used to describe someone engaged in grooming.
  • She was at her dressing-table for an hour, getting ready for the evening. (She was grooming herself at the table.)

Notes

• The term "dressing-table" is primarily British English; in American English, "dresser" or "vanity" is more common for similar furniture. The word is a compound noun, combining "dressing" (the act of grooming) and "table" (a piece of furniture).