costume

[kos-toom, -tyoom, ko-stoom, -styoom]

noun

1. a style of dress, including accessories and hairdos, especially that peculiar to a nation, region, group, or historical period.

2. dress or garb characteristic of another period, place, person, etc., as worn on the stage or at balls.

3. fashion of dress appropriate to a particular occasion or season.

   dancing costume; winter costume.

4. a set of garments, especially women's garments, selected for wear at a single time; outfit; ensemble.

verb (used with object)

costumed, costuming 

1. to dress; furnish with a costume; provide appropriate dress for.

   to costume a play.

adjective

1. of or characterized by the wearing of costumes.

   a costume party.

2. meant for use with or appropriate to a specific costume.

   costume accessories.

costume

/ ˈkɒstjuːm /

noun

1. a complete style of dressing, including all the clothes, accessories, etc, worn at one time, as in a particular country or period; dress

   national costume

2. old-fashioned,  a woman's suit

3. a set of clothes, esp unusual or period clothes, worn in a play by an actor or at a fancy dress ball

   a jester's costume

4. short for swimming costume

verb

1. to furnish the costumes for (a show, film, etc)

2. to dress (someone) in a costume

Other Word Forms

• recostume verb (used with object)
• uncostumed adjective
• well-costumed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of costume¹

1705–15; < French < Italian: usage, habit, dress; doublet of custom

Word History and Origins

Origin of costume¹

C18: from French, from Italian: dress, habit, _custom

Synonym Study

See dress.

Example Sentences

Getting into Maeve’s mindset was easier for Jones when she got into the character’s costuming.

From Los Angeles Times

He contributed wardrobe to some films and received a costume designer credit for others.

From Los Angeles Times

He went on to dress stars on the Oscar night red carpet, and design costumes for dozens of film and television shows: notably The Untouchables and 1980s crime series Miami Vice.

From BBC

He also designed stage outfits for Lady Gaga and various costumes for films American Gigolo and The Wolf of Wall Street.

From BBC

Wearing the Wizard’s green top hat and suit and with his microphone dropping out inauspiciously, Dolan never introduced himself, but he did compliment the other creators of the event, who also wore costumes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apparel 
• attire 
• dress 
• ensemble 
• fashion 
• garb 
• getup 
• style 
• suit 
• uniform 
• wardrobe