costume Definition
- 1a set of clothes worn by an actor or performer for a particular role or by someone attending a masquerade
- 2a set of clothes worn in a particular country or period of history, or by a particular profession or group
Using costume: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "costume" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She wore a beautiful costume for the play.
Example
The dancers were dressed in colorful costumes.
Example
He dressed up in a pirate costume for Halloween.
Example
The museum has a collection of historical costumes.
costume Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using costume
in costume
wearing a costume
Example
The actors were in costume and ready to perform.
take off one's costume
to remove one's costume
Example
After the party, she took off her costume and changed into her regular clothes.
costume drama
a movie or TV show that is set in the past and features characters wearing historical costumes
Example
The new costume drama on TV is set in the 18th century.
Phrases with costume
national costume
a set of clothes that is typical of a particular country or region
Example
The dancers wore traditional national costumes during the performance.
fancy dress costume
a set of clothes worn to a party or event where guests are expected to dress up in unusual or amusing clothes
Example
She went to the Halloween party in a fancy dress costume.
stage costume
a set of clothes worn by an actor or performer for a particular role
Example
The stage costumes for the play were designed by a famous fashion designer.
Origins of costume
from Italian 'compostura', meaning 'fashion, dress'
Summary: costume in Brief
The term 'costume' [ˈkɒstjuːm] refers to a set of clothes worn by an actor or performer for a particular role or by someone attending a masquerade. It can also refer to a set of clothes worn in a particular country or period of history, or by a particular profession or group. Examples include 'She wore a beautiful costume for the play.' and 'The museum has a collection of historical costumes.' Phrases like 'national costume' and 'fancy dress costume' denote specific types of costumes, while idioms like 'in costume' and 'take off one's costume' refer to wearing or removing costumes.
