Dressed

Dressed is the past tense of the verb dress and an adjective describing someone or something that has been clothed or prepared in a specified way. The term is used across several domains, including clothing, cooking, medicine, and construction.

In fashion and social usage, dressed commonly refers to wearing clothing appropriate to a situation. Phrases such as well-dressed or dressed to the nines indicate a high standard of appearance, while dress codes specify expectations for groups or events.

In culinary contexts, dressed describes foods that have been prepared with a dressing or that have been cleaned and prepped for eating. A dressed salad has dressing and toppings; a dressed crab has its shell opened and meat ready to eat. The sense also covers preparing meat or fish for cooking, such as dressing a chicken.

In medicine, to dress a wound means to clean, treat, and cover it to prevent infection. Wound dressing refers to the materials used to cover the wound and protect it during healing.

In construction and masonry, dressed stone or timber has been cut and finished to prescribed dimensions and smooth surfaces, as opposed to rough, undressed material.

Other uses include informal idioms such as dressed for success, which describe readiness or preparation for a task or event. The term thus spans practical applications from everyday attire to specialized preparation in various trades.