/ kləʊðz; kləʊz; NAmE kloʊðz; kloʊz/ noun
[ pl. ] the things that you wear, such as trousers / pants, dresses and jackets :
I bought some new clothes for the trip.
to put on / take off your clothes
Bring a change of clothes with you.
She has no clothes sense (= she does not know what clothes look attractive) .
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SYNONYMS
clothes
clothing ♦ garment ♦ dress ♦ wear ♦ gear
These are all words for the things that you wear, such as shirts, jackets, dresses and trousers.
clothes
the things that you wear, such as shirts, jackets, dresses and trousers.
clothing
( rather formal ) clothes, especially a particular type of clothes:
warm clothing
clothes or clothing?
Clothing is more formal than clothes and is used especially to mean 'a particular type of clothes'. There is no singular form of clothes or clothing : a piece / an item / an article of clothing is used to talk about one thing that you wear such as a dress or shirt.
garment
( formal ) a piece of clothing:
He was wearing a strange shapeless garment.
NOTE
Garment should only be used in formal or literary contexts; in everyday contexts use a piece of clothing .
dress
clothes, especially when worn in a particular style or for a particular occasion:
We were allowed to wear casual dress on Fridays.
wear
(usually in compounds) clothes for a particular purpose or occasion, especially when it is being sold in shops / stores:
the children's wear department
gear
( informal ) clothes:
Her friends were all wearing the latest gear (= fashionable clothes) .
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
casual clothes / clothing / dress / wear / gear
evening / formal clothes / dress / wear
designer / sports / school / work clothes / clothing / garments / wear / gear
children's / men's / women's clothes / clothing / garments / wear
second-hand clothes / clothing / garments
to have on / be in ...clothes / clothing / garments / dress / wear / gear
to wear ... clothes / clothing / garments / dress / gear
to change your clothes / clothing / garments / gear
to put on your clothes / clothing / garments / gear
to take off your clothes / clothing / gear
clothes / dress sense
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English clāthas , plural of clāth , related to Dutch kleed and German Kleid , of unknown ultimate origin.