Skirt vs. Dress — What's the Difference?

A piece of clothing worn around the waist and over the legs.

A one-piece garment for women or girls that covers the body and extends down over the legs.

A surface that conceals or protects the base of an object.

To put on attire; to adorn oneself.

To evade or avoid something, especially by cunning means.

To prepare or arrange in a certain way.

A skirt is the lower part of a dress or a separate outer garment that covers a person from the waist downwards.At its simplest, a skirt can be a draped garment made out of a single piece of fabric (such as pareos). However, most skirts are fitted to the body at the waist or hips and fuller below, with the fullness introduced by means of darts, gores, pleats, or panels.

To apply treatment, bandages, or medication to a wound.

The part of a garment, such as a dress or coat, that hangs freely from the waist down.

A dress (also known as a frock or a gown) is a garment traditionally worn by women or girls consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice (or a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment). It consists of a top piece that covers the torso and hangs down over the legs.

A garment hanging from the waist and worn especially by women and girls.

Put on one's clothes

One of the leather flaps hanging from the side of a saddle.

Decorate (something) in an artistic or attractive way

The lower outer section of a rocket vehicle.

Treat or prepare (something) in a certain way.

A flexible strip hanging from the base of an air-cushion vehicle.

Draw up (troops) in the proper alignment.

A piece of fabric that extends over or beyond something to afford protection.

(of a man) have the genitals habitually on one or the other side of the fork of the trousers

A spray skirt.

Make (an artificial fly) for use in fishing

An outer edge; a border or margin

A one-piece garment for a woman or girl that covers the body and extends down over the legs

Offensive Slang A woman.

Clothing of a specified kind for men or women

To lie along or form the edge of; border

To put clothes on; clothe.

To pass around rather than across or through

To furnish with clothing.

To pass close to; miss narrowly

To decorate or adorn

To evade, as by circumlocution

To garnish

To lie along, move along, or be an edge or a border.

To arrange a display in

An article of clothing, usually worn by women and girls, that hangs from the waist and covers the lower part of the body.

To arrange (troops) in ranks; align.

The part of a dress or robe, etc., that hangs below the waist.

To apply medication, bandages, or other therapeutic materials to (a wound).

A loose edging to any part of a dress.

To arrange and groom (the hair), as by styling, combing, or washing.

A petticoat.

To groom (an animal); curry.

A woman.

To fertilize (land or plants).

Women collectively, in a sexual context.

(Archaic) To cultivate (land or plants).

Sexual intercourse with a woman.

To clean (fish or fowl) for cooking or sale.

Border; edge; margin; extreme part of anything.

To put a finish on (stone or wood, for example).

The diaphragm, or midriff, in animals

To tan or prepare (a hide) in leather-making.

To be on or form the border of.

To put on clothes.

To move around or along the border of; to avoid the center of.

To wear clothes of a certain kind or style

To cover with a skirt; to surround.

To wear formal clothes

To avoid or ignore (something); to manage to avoid (something or a problem); to skate by (something).

To get into proper alignment with others

The lower and loose part of a coat, dress, or other like garment; the part below the waist; as, the skirt of a coat, a dress, or a mantle.

Clothing; apparel.

A loose edging to any part of a dress.

A style of clothing

Border; edge; margin; extreme part of anything

A one-piece outer garment consisting of a skirt and bodice.

A petticoat.

Outer covering or appearance; guise

The diaphragm, or midriff, in animals.

Suitable for formal occasions

To cover with a skirt; to surround.

Requiring formal clothes

To border; to form the border or edge of; to run along the edge of; as, the plain was skirted by rows of trees.

(transitive)

To be on the border; to live near the border, or extremity.

To put clothes (or, formerly, armour) on (oneself or someone, a doll, a mannequin, etc.); to clothe.

Cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist

To design, make, provide, or select clothes (for someone).

A garment hanging from the waist; worn mainly by girls and women

To arrange or style (someone's hair).

Informal terms for a (young) woman

To adorn or ornament (something).

Avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues);

To apply a dressing to or otherwise treat (a wound); (obsolete) to give (a wounded person) medical aid.

Pass around or about; move along the border;

To fit or prepare (something) for use; to render (something) suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready.

Form the edge of

To cultivate or tend to (a garden, land, plants, etc.); especially, to add fertilizer or manure to (soil); to fertilize, to manure.

Extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle;

To cut up (an animal or its flesh) for food; specifically (hunting), to remove the internal organs (of a game animal) shortly after it has been killed so that the carcass cools more quickly; to field dress.

The part of a garment hanging freely below the waist.

(cooking) To prepare (food) for cooking or eating, especially by seasoning it; specifically, to add a dressing or sauce (to food, especially a salad).

The outer edge or border of an area or object.

(military) To arrange (soldiers or troops) into proper formation; especially, to adjust (soldiers or troops) into straight lines and at a proper distance from each other; to align.

To treat (someone) in a particular manner; specifically, in an appropriate or fitting manner; to give (someone) a deserved beating; also, to give (someone) a good scolding; to dress down.

(obsolete) To break in and train (a horse or other animal) for use.

To prepare (oneself); to make ready.

(intransitive)

To put on clothes.

Of a thing: to attain a certain condition after undergoing some process or treatment to fit or prepare it for use.

To allow one's penis to fall to one side or the other within one's trousers.

(slang) cross-dress

Of an animal carcass: to have a certain quantity or weight after removal of the internal organs and skin; also, to have a certain appearance after being cut up and prepared for cooking.

Of soldiers or troops: to arrange into proper formation; especially, to form into straight lines and at a proper distance from each other.

(sports) Of a sportsperson: to put on the uniform and have the equipment needed to play a sport.

(countable)

An item of clothing (usually worn by a woman or young girl) which both covers the upper part of the body and includes a skirt below the waist.

(archaic) An item of outer clothing or set of such clothes (worn by people of all sexes) which is generally decorative and appropriate for a particular occasion, profession, etc.

Ellipsis of dress rehearsal

(uncountable)

Apparel or clothing, especially when appropriate for a particular occasion, profession, etc.

(archaic) The act of putting on clothes, especially fashionable ones, or for a particular (especially formal) occasion.

(by extension)

(obsolete) The act of applying a dressing to or otherwise treating a wound; also, the dressing so applied.

To direct; to put right or straight; to regulate; to order.

To arrange in exact continuity of line, as soldiers; commonly to adjust to a straight line and at proper distance; to align; as, to dress the ranks.

To treat methodically with remedies, bandages, or curative appliances, as a sore, an ulcer, a wound, or a wounded or diseased part.

To adjust; to put in good order; to arrange; specifically: (a) To prepare for use; to fit for any use; to render suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready; as, to dress a slain animal; to dress meat; to dress leather or cloth; to dress or trim a lamp; to dress a garden; to dress a horse, by currying and rubbing; to dress grain, by cleansing it; in mining and metallurgy, to dress ores, by sorting and separating them.

To cut to proper dimensions, or give proper shape to, as to a tool by hammering; also, to smooth or finish.

To put in proper condition by appareling, as the body; to put clothes upon; to apparel; to invest with garments or rich decorations; to clothe; to deck.

To break and train for use, as a horse or other animal.

To arrange one's self in due position in a line of soldiers; - the word of command to form alignment in ranks; as, Dress right, dress!

To clothe or apparel one's self; to put on one's garments; to pay particular regard to dress; as, to dress quickly.

That which is used as the covering or ornament of the body; clothes; garments; habit; apparel.

A lady's gown; as, silk or a velvet dress.

Attention to apparel, or skill in adjusting it.

The system of furrows on the face of a millstone.

A one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice

Clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion;

Clothing in general;

Put on clothes;

Provide with clothes or put clothes on;

Put a finish on;

Dress in a certain manner;

Dress or groom with elaborate care;

Kill and prepare for market or consumption;

Arrange in ranks;

Decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods

Provide with decoration;

Put a dressing on;

Cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of;

Cut down rough-hewn (lumber) to standard thickness and width

Convert into leather;

Apply a bandage or medication to;

Give a neat appearance to;

Arrange attractively;

Suitable for formal occasions;

(of an occasion) requiring formal clothes;

The display of a flag, especially on a ship.

Consider measurements for the bust, waist, and hips, and consult the brand's size chart.

A dress usually has an open leg design, while a jumpsuit is a one-piece garment with pants attached.

Not necessarily; both dresses and skirts come in formal and casual styles.

Yes, depending on the style and material, a skirt can be appropriate for formal occasions.

A gown is typically a more formal, often floor-length dress.

Absolutely, depending on the style and formality of the business environment.

Skirts can be both casual and formal, depending on the design and material.

No, while traditionally associated with women, skirts are worn by all genders in various cultures.

It's best to dry clean or gently hand wash a silk dress, avoiding harsh chemicals.

A skirt can be made of various materials, including cotton, silk, wool, or synthetic fibers.

Pairing a skirt with tights, boots, and layered tops can make it winter-appropriate.

Types include pencil, A-line, maxi, mini, and pleated, among others.

Yes, skirts can be mini, midi, maxi, or other lengths.

Yes, some dresses are designed with pockets for added functionality.

Both can be tailored, but skirts might be simpler due to their separate nature.