1. A woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
   "She wore a stunning red gown to the charity gala"
    
2. Outerwear consisting of a long flowing garment used for official or ceremonial occasions
   "The judge donned his black gown before entering the courtroom";
   - robe
    
3. A loose, comfortable dress designed to be worn in bed, typically by women
   "She slipped on her favourite silk gown before going to sleep";
   - nightgown, nightie [informal], night-robe, nightdress, nighty [informal]
    
4. Protective garment worn by surgeons during operations
   "The nurse helped the surgeon put on his surgical gown before entering the operating room";
   - surgical gown, scrubs
    
5. The members of a university as distinguished from the other residents of the town in which the university is located
   "the relations between town and gown are always sensitive"

1. Dress in a gown
   "The graduates gowned for the ceremony"

Derived forms: gowns, gowning, gowned

Type of: apparel [archaic], clothe, dress, enclothe [rare], fit out, frock, garb, garment, habilitate [archaic], intimate apparel, lingerie, nightclothes, nightwear, outerwear, overclothes, raiment [archaic], school [N. Amer], sleepwear, tog [informal], uni [Brit, informal], university

Encyclopedia: Gown