clothes
clothes
Pronunciation
/kloʊðz/.
clothes /kloʊðz/
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/l/ - voiced lateral approximant
/oʊ/ - diphthong (as in "boat")
/ð/ - voiced dental fricative (as in "the")
/z/ - voiced alveolar sibilant
Word Form Variations
The word "clothes" is primarily a plural noun and is usually used as such. It refers to the general items that people wear.
However, we can look at related word forms and concepts:
Singular (concept): While "clothes" is plural, you can refer to a single item by saying "a piece of clothing," "an item of clothing," or "an article of clothing."
Related Noun (uncountable): Clothing is an uncountable noun that also refers to garments in general, often used in more formal contexts (e.g., "warm clothing," "children's clothing"). There is no singular form for "clothing" either.
Verb: The verb form related to "clothes" is to clothe.
Present tense:
I/you/we/they clothe
He/she/it clothes (third-person singular)
Past tense: clothed
Present participle: clothing
Past participle: clothed
Adjective (related concept): While not a direct form of "clothes," words like dressed (e.g., "well-dressed") or clad (e.g., "finely clad") describe someone wearing clothes.
So, the primary word form is the plural noun "clothes." The other variations are related but distinct: "clothing" as an uncountable noun, and "clothe" as a verb.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
clothes (plural noun)
Definition: Items worn on the body to cover, protect, or adorn oneself, typically made of fabric.
Synonyms: apparel, garments, attire, dress, wear, outfits, wardrobe, threads (informal), duds (informal).
Antonyms: nudity, bareness, nakedness.
Verb
clothe (verb)
Definition (transitive): To provide someone with garments or to dress them in clothing.
Example: "She worked tirelessly to clothe her children with warm winter coats."
Synonyms: dress, attire, garb, outfit, apparel, array.
Antonyms: unclothe, undress, strip, divest, bare.
Definition (transitive, figurative): To cover or envelop something as if with clothing, often to give it a particular appearance or quality.
Example: "The dense fog seemed to clothe the entire valley in mystery."
Synonyms: cloak, drape, shroud, envelop, cover.
Antonyms: uncover, expose, reveal, unwrap.
Related Noun (uncountable)
clothing (uncountable noun)
Definition: A general term referring to all types of garments collectively; wearing apparel. This term is often used in more formal or abstract contexts.
Example: "The charity collected donations of food and clothing for the refugees."
Synonyms: attire, apparel, garments, wear, raiment (archaic/literary).
Antonyms: nudity, bareness, nakedness.
Examples of Use
Books:
"He spent a good hour rummaging through his clothes, trying to find an outfit that felt both comfortable and appropriate for the formal dinner." (Fictional narrative, unspecified author)
"The historical society's exhibit featured a vast collection of Victorian-era clothing, showcasing the intricate details and styles of the period." (Non-fiction historical text, unspecified author)
Newspapers:
"Retailers are reporting a significant increase in sales of sustainable clothes as consumer awareness about environmental impact grows." (Business section, The Guardian)
"Police are appealing for witnesses after a charity shop was targeted, with thieves making off with several bags of donated clothing." (Local news report, Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Our latest fashion blog post explores the 'capsule wardrobe' trend, focusing on how to maximize your outfits with a minimal number of clothes." (Fashion blog, Vogue.com)
"Experts advise parents to dress their infants in breathable clothing to prevent overheating, especially during warmer months." (Parenting advice website, BabyCenter.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (Dialogue): "Honestly, I have nothing to wear! My closet is full of clothes, but none of them feel right for tonight." (Sitcom dialogue, Friends)
Film (Description in a review): "The film's costume design was impeccable, with each character's clothes perfectly reflecting their personality and social standing." (Film review, Rotten Tomatoes)
Music (Song lyrics): "I got a brand new bag, and I put on my best clothes." (Lyrics from a popular song, artist unspecified)
Video Games (Item description): "Increases stealth when worn in dark environments. Legendary Adventurer's Clothes." (In-game item description, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
Social Media (Instagram caption): "Beach day vibes! Soaking up the sun, but always bring extra clothes for the cool evening breeze. #beachlife #summerfashion" (Personal social media post)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you help me fold the laundry? There's a huge pile of clean clothes on the bed." (Everyday conversation)
"When you're packing for the trip, remember to bring comfortable clothes for hiking." (Travel advice)
"My dog just loves to roll around in the dirt, so I'm constantly washing his blankets and my old clothes." (Informal conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Clothes
"The soul of a man is not a thing which any man can clothe or unclothe." (Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., The Poet at the Breakfast-Table)
"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." (Mark Twain)
"I have always believed that fashion was not only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, to give them confidence." (Yves Saint Laurent - often paraphrased as related to clothes' power)
"Beauty, when most unclothed, is her divinest clothing." (Lord Byron, Don Juan)
"Friendship is like clothes – the older it is, the more it fits." (Russian Proverb)
"Put on your old clothes and buy a new book." (Austin Phelps)
"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." (Abraham Lincoln - often used to imply that reputation/clothes are superficial, character is fundamental)
"Clothes and manners do not make the man; but when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance." (Arthur Ashe)
"People buy clothes. They wear clothes. They throw clothes away. They buy new clothes." (Vivienne Westwood)
"And it's not what you wear, it's how you wear it. It's not what you're saying, it's how you're saying it." (Gwen Stefani - implying that style and presentation, like clothes, are about more than just the item itself)
Etymology
The word "clothes" has a pretty interesting journey through the history of the English language!
It all starts in Old English (the language spoken before about 1150 AD) with the word "clāþ" (pronounced something like "klawth").
Now, here's the key: "clāþ" originally meant "cloth" – as in, the actual fabric, like a piece of woven material. Think of a blanket or a piece of linen. However, its plural form, "clāþas", was used to mean "garments for the body" or "attire". So, even back then, the plural of the word for fabric was used to mean the things you wear.
Over time, in Middle English, "clāþas" evolved into "cloþes" or "clothes." The singular "cloth" continued to refer to the material itself, but the plural "clothes" kept its meaning of "things to wear."
So, the first known use and meaning of the plural "clothes" was to refer to items of wearing apparel, and this meaning directly comes from the plural of the Old English word for the fabric they're made from. It's a neat example of how language adapts and changes over centuries!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Clothes
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "clothes" or its related forms and synonyms:
Clothes make the man: (Idiom) Appearance is very important, sometimes more so than character.
Sunday best clothes: (Phrase) One's finest or most formal attire, reserved for special occasions.
To air one's dirty laundry/linen (in public): (Idiom) To discuss private or embarrassing matters in front of others. (Uses a synonym, "laundry/linen," referring to clothes)
To get into one's working clothes: (Phrase) To prepare for or begin serious effort or work.
To be dressed to the nines: (Idiom) To be dressed very elegantly or fashionably. (Refers to being fully dressed in impressive clothes)
To be caught with one's pants down: (Idiom) To be found in an embarrassing or unprepared situation. (Uses a specific item of clothing)
To wear the trousers/pants: (Idiom) To be the dominant partner in a relationship or the one in control. (Uses a specific item of clothing)
To take off one's gloves: (Idiom) To stop being gentle and start acting more aggressively. (Uses a specific item of clothing)
To clothe oneself in dignity/righteousness: (Figurative phrase) To adopt or embody a particular quality or virtue.
A wolf in sheep's clothing: (Idiom) A person who appears friendly or harmless but is actually dangerous. (Uses "clothing")
Hand-me-down clothes: (Phrase) Used clothes passed from one person to another.
To outgrow one's clothes: (Phrase) To become too big for one's current clothing; also figuratively, to advance beyond a previous stage.
To clothe a concept: (Figurative phrase) To give a concrete or understandable form to an abstract idea.
To shed one's old skin/clothes: (Figurative phrase) To get rid of old habits or characteristics and adopt new ones.
In black tie/white tie: (Phrase) Referring to very formal dress codes. (Implies specific formal clothes)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of clothes from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
