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Definition of costume noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

costume

noun
 
 
/ˈkɒstjuːm/
 
/ˈkɑːstuːm/
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  1.  
     [countable, uncountable] the clothes worn by people from a particular place or during a particular historical period
    • an exhibition of Victorian costumes
    • She wore a traditional costume of bright pink silk.
    • in… costume a painting of a woman in Welsh costume
    • Many locals dressed in period costume (= typical of a particular time in history) for the celebrations.
    see also national costumeTopics Historyb1, Clothes and Fashionb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • full
    • colourful/​colorful
    • elaborate
    • …
    verb + costume
    • be dressed in
    • dress in
    • have on
    • …
    costume + noun
    • design
    • designer
    • drama
    • …
    preposition
    • in costume
    See full entry
  2.  
     [countable, uncountable] the clothes worn by actors in a play or film, or worn by somebody to make them look like somebody/something else
    • The former dancer has also designed the costumes.
    • The costumes for this production were gorgeous.
    • They are already planning their costumes for Halloween.
    • in a costume He went to the party in a giant chicken costume.
    • in costume The actors were still in costume and make-up.
    • She has four costume changes during the play.
    • a costume designer
    Wordfinder
    Extra Examples
    • For the dress rehearsal, the cast will be in full costume.
    • He designed the costumes for a production of ‘The Firebird’.
    • He had a cowboy costume on.
    • I have a great idea for my Halloween costume.
    • The battle was re-enacted by actors in period costume.
    • The main character had five costume changes.
    Topics Film and theatreb1, Clothes and Fashionb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • full
    • colourful/​colorful
    • elaborate
    • …
    verb + costume
    • be dressed in
    • dress in
    • have on
    • …
    costume + noun
    • design
    • designer
    • drama
    • …
    preposition
    • in costume
    See full entry
  3. [countable]
    (also swimming costume)
    (both British English)
    (also swimsuit British and North American English, North American English or old-fashioned bathing suit)
    a piece of clothing worn for swimming, especially the type worn by women and girls
    • If you’d like a swim, we can lend you a costume.
    4. Word Originearly 18th cent.: from French, from Italian costume ‘custom, fashion, habit’, from Latin consuetudo, from consuetus, past participle of consuescere ‘accustom’, from con- (expressing intensive force) + suescere ‘become accustomed’.
See costume in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: costume

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Nearby words

elaborate
adjective
 
 
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