clothe

clothe

transitive verb \ˈklōth\

clothed or clad \ˈklad\ cloth·ing

Definition of CLOTHE

1

a : to cover with or as if with cloth or clothing : dress

b : to provide with clothes <the cost of feeding and clothing a family>

2

: to express or enhance by suitably significant language : couch <treaties clothed in stately phraseology>

3

: to endow especially with power or a quality <the nobility in which religion and history can clothe humanity — D.R. Wallace>

Examples of CLOTHE

1. the cost of feeding and clothing your children
2. <they liked to clothe the twins in identical outfits just to confuse people>

Origin of CLOTHE

Middle English, from Old English clāthian, from clāth

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to CLOTHE

Synonyms

apparel, array, attire, bedeck, caparison, costume, deck (out), do up, dress, dress up, enrobe, garb, garment, get up, gown, habit, invest, rig (out), robe, suit, tog (up or out), toilet, vesture

Antonyms

disarray, disrobe, strip, unclothe, undress, untruss [archaic]

Related Words

cloak, frock, jacket, mantle, vest; drape, enswathe, hap [dialect], huddle, swaddle, swathe, wrap; accoutre (or accouter), bedight [archaic], equip, furnish, habilitate, outfit, tailor, uniform; dress down, underdress

Near Antonyms

denude, divest, uncover, undrape, unveil

Rhymes with CLOTHE

loathe