Costume

Pronunciation

• enPR: kŏs't(j)oÍžom, IPA: /ˈkÉ’st(j)uːm/

Origin

From French costume, from Italian costuma, from Medieval Latin costuma, ultimately, from Latin consuetudo ("custom"); see custom, which is a doublet of costume.

Full definition of costume

Noun

1. A style of dress, including garments, accessories and hairstyle, especially as characteristic of a particular country, period or people.''The dancer was wearing Highland costume.
2. An outfit or a disguise worn as fancy dress etc.''We wore gorilla costumes to the party.
3. A set of clothes appropriate for a particular occasion or season.''The bride wore a grey going-away costume.

Synonyms

• outfit

Derived terms

Related terms

• customary
• custom

Verb

1. To dress or adorn with a costume or appropriate garb.
• 1847, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, Chapter XVIIISeated on the carpet, by the side of this basin, was seen Mr. Rochester, costumed in shawls, with a turban on his head. His dark eyes and swarthy skin and Paynim features suited the costume exactly. He looked the very model of an Eastern emir, an agent or a victim of the bowstring.