night-gown

The young girl is wearing a soft pink night-gown as she sits on the edge of her bed.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A garment worn for sleeping: "night-gown" refers to a loose, comfortable piece of clothing, typically worn by women or children, designed for sleeping. It is usually made of soft fabric such as cotton or silk and often extends to the knees or ankles.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She slipped into her favourite night-gown before going to bed. (A sleeping garment worn for comfort at night.)
  • The child’s night-gown had a pattern of little stars and moons. (A sleeping garment designed for children.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be in one’s night-gown": to be wearing a night-gown, often implying a state of undress or readiness for sleep.
  • She answered the door in her night-gown, looking sleepy. (She was wearing her sleeping garment, not dressed for public.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nightgown (n): an alternative spelling, used interchangeably with "night-gown".

  • She bought a new nightgown for the summer. (A sleeping garment.)

• Nightdress (n): a synonym, especially common in British English.

  • The nightdress was made of soft flannel. (A sleeping garment similar to a night-gown.)

• Nightshirt (n): a similar garment, but typically a long shirt worn for sleeping, often by men.

  • He wore a striped nightshirt to bed. (A sleeping garment for men.)

Synonyms

• Sleepwear: a general term for clothing worn while sleeping.

  • She prefers cotton sleepwear for comfort. (Clothing for sleeping.)

• Pajamas (or pyjamas): a two-piece sleeping outfit, often consisting of a top and trousers.

  • He changed into his pajamas before bedtime. (Sleeping clothes, typically two-piece.)

Related Idioms

• "Night-gown mood": an informal expression meaning a state of relaxation or readiness for sleep.
  • After a long day, she was in a night-gown mood. (She felt ready to relax and go to bed.)