clothingcloth‧ing /ˈkləʊðɪŋ $ ˈkloʊ-/ ●●● S3 W3 noun [uncountable] 
basic necessities such as food and clothing She took only a few items of clothing.► see thesaurus at clothes → a change of clothing at change2(6)COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + clothingwarm clothing· The flood victims need shelter and warm clothing.light clothing (=made from thin materials)· You’ll only need light clothing during the day.outdoor clothing· The shop sells ski-wear and other outdoor clothing.protective clothing· Laboratory technicians have to wear special protective clothing.waterproof clothing· Always take a map, a compass, and waterproof clothing.outer clothing (=that you wear over other clothes)· The men were hastily pulling on some outer clothing.designer clothing (=made by a well-known designer)sports clothingwinter/summer clothingphrasesa piece of clothing· There were pieces of clothing scattered around the room.an item/article of clothing formal (=a piece of clothing)· All items of clothing should be clearly labelled.a layer of clothing· In very cold weather it’s good to wear several layers of clothing.clothing + NOUNthe clothing industry· There are plenty of job opportunities in the clothing industry.a clothing manufacturer· a large clothing manufacturer
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- an expensive clothing store
- Because of the heat, officials are asking people to wear light, loose-fitting clothing and to drink plenty of water.
- Charities have been delivering food and clothing to the disaster area.
- Lab workers must wear protective clothing.
- The church provides blankets and clothing for homeless children.
- There was nothing in the chest except for a few items of clothing.
- A change of clothing also lets you off the hook.
- Always wear the right clothing for the activity you choose - clothing worn too tight can hinder circulation.
- Becoming embarrassingly aware of the awful smell emanating from her sodden clothing, she closed her eyes in defeat.
- Half-facet ... Obispal spotted a lone purestrain Stealer lurking some way down a dismal arcade lined by shuttered clothing stores.
- In fact, innumerable changes will result affecting agricultural, housing, medical, clothing and amusement policies.
- So far, most discounters have stuck to selling food, though Aldi does use one-off promotions of clothing to attract customers.
- There is of course nothing new in finding new uses: Malmesbury Abbey after the Reformation became Britain's first clothing factory.
- They quite literally fought naked because clothing might protect you from the wound.
THESAURUS
noun [plural] things you wear to cover your body or keep you warm. Clothes is always plural: · I like your clothes!· Don’t throw your dirty clothes on the floor!· a clothes shop
noun [uncountable] used when talking in general about a type of clothes, or about making or selling clothes. Also used in the phrase a piece/item/article of clothing (=one of the things that someone wears): · You’ll need to take some warm clothing.· It is important to wear protective clothing at all times.· a clothing manufacturer· a clothing retailer· Police found a piece of clothing in the bushes.· I took a change of clothing with me.
noun [countable] formal one thing that you wear. Also used when talking about buying and selling clothes: · a long velvet garment· the garment industry· garment workers· garment factories
noun [uncountable] a particular style of clothes. Don’t use dress on its own: · Casual dress is not appropriate for an interview.· men in evening dress
noun [uncountable] used about types of clothes sold in a shop, in the following phrases. Don’t use wear on its own: · children’s wear· sports wear· casual wear
noun [uncountable] informal clothes for a particular sport or activity: · She was wearing her running gear.· Have you got all your gear?
noun [singular] all the clothes that you own, or all the clothes that you wear at a particular time of year: · Her wardrobe consisted mainly of smart clothes for work.· I will need a new summer wardrobe.· You could win a complete new wardrobe!
Longman Language Activatorclothes things that you wear, for example coats, shirts, and dresses: · I need to go buy some new clothes.· The temperature should be around freezing tonight - it's time to get the winter clothes out.· My mother always made us wear our good clothes for travelling.· There are lots of clothes shops on Newbury Street.baby/school/dance etc clothes (=for babies, for school etc): · You can pick up second-hand baby clothes very cheaply.
clothes in general - use this either to talk about a particular type of clothes, or to talk about a large quantity of clothes: · Charities have been delivering food and clothing to the disaster area.warm/light/outdoor etc clothing: · Because of the heat, officials are asking people to wear light, loose-fitting clothing and to drink plenty of water.piece/item/article of clothing (=one thing that you wear, for example a shirt or a dress) formal: · There was nothing in the chest except for a few items of clothing.
spoken clothes, especially clothes for a particular event or occasion : · I must buy something to wear at Julie's wedding.· You're always saying you have nothing to wear, but you've got a whole closet full of clothes. · I can't find anything to wear!
formal a single piece of clothing - used especially by people who make or sell clothes: · The garment industry has grown by 20% in this area in the past five years.· Only two garments may be taken into the changing room.
all the clothes that you own - used especially by people who write about fashion or by people who sell clothes: · Enter our simple fashion quiz and win a whole new wardrobe.· We have everything you need to update your business wardrobe.winter/summer etc wardrobe (=the clothes you have that are suitable to wear in the winter, summer etc): · By adding a few bright buttons or belts to your old clothes you can have a new summer wardrobe.
: evening/casual/sports/children's etc wear the clothes worn for a particular occasion or activity or by a particular group of people - used especially by people who make or sell clothes: · a shop that specializes in evening wear· You'll find a nice range of silk ties in the menswear department on the fourth floor.· The company's line of casual wear is primarily sold in large discount chain stores.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYADJECTIVES/NOUN + clothing ladies’ underwear
· The flood victims need shelter and warm clothing.
(=made from thin materials)· You’ll only need light clothing during the day.
· The shop sells ski-wear and other outdoor clothing.
· Laboratory technicians have to wear special protective clothing.
· Always take a map, a compass, and waterproof clothing.
(=that you wear over other clothes)· The men were hastily pulling on some outer clothing.
(=made by a well-known designer)
phrases· There were pieces of clothing scattered around the room.
formal (=a piece of clothing)· All items of clothing should be clearly labelled.
· In very cold weather it’s good to wear several layers of clothing.
clothing + NOUN· There are plenty of job opportunities in the clothing industry.
· a large clothing manufacturer
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· She’d bought a few items of clothing for her trip.
ladies’ underwear American English (=one that sells one type of goods) She worked in a grocery store before going to college.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE She worked in a grocery store before going to college.· The walks take place in all but the most extreme weather conditions, so please wear suitable outdoor clothing.· I went to a well-known outdoor equipment and clothing firm in London yesterday to buy a daysack.· Notes Outdoor clothing is recommended, including walking boots or wellingtons.· It was true, the old ramblers were both ugly and kitted out in the very best of outdoor clothing.· Pages and serving women hastened through it, each of them bearing an item of outdoor clothing.· Free from outdated rules regarding outdoor clothing and morals, the Lawrences certainly had a more lively manner.· Outdoor clothing manufacturers Craghoppers will be supplying top of the range outdoor clothing as prizes.
· Obviously, you have to wear quite a lot of protective clothing to minimise the risk of getting injured.· The inquest heard Mrs Weaver was an experienced horsewoman with the correct protective clothing and headgear.· Hazardous materials should be provided in such a way that the appropriate protective clothing should automatically be provided.· The self is a muffled self: it wears a suit of protective clothing.· Health hazards arise since full protective clothing is unbearable in a tropical climate, even if the poor farmers could afford it.· Embalmers are advised of the protective clothing required both for handling the chemicals and the deceased persons themselves.· Voice over Firefighters wearing special protective clothing made their way through the dense smoke towards the fuel flask.
· Left: Pitch handling at Doncaster. Special clothing was worn for handling this very dusty cargo.· People from some cultures may have special clothing needs.· Voice over Firefighters wearing special protective clothing made their way through the dense smoke towards the fuel flask.· Instead, two technicians put on special protective clothing, removed a plug and looked inside the pile.
· Following the successful Cold Front appeal it's flying in warm clothing and our reporter Kim Barnes joined the airlift.· Grants are made for warm clothing, heating bills, beds and bedding, nourishing foods, convalescent holidays, etc.· Many historic sites and buildings can be cold even in summer, and warm clothing and appropriate footwear may be needed.· Some items of warm clothing may not seem very fashionable today, but they can be very effective.· When the extremities are warm, the whole body can be kept warm with light clothing.· Bring a packed lunch, warm clothing and waterproofs and wear stout footwear.· Go well prepared with a map and compass and warm waterproof clothing.· Wear trainers, warm clothing and waterproofs and don't forget to bring a packed lunch and a change of clothes.
NOUN· Cassie didn't see Bella troubling her head with clothing coupons and ration books.· A ration book for certain items of food, clothing coupons, driving licence.· Trained mind I might be supposed to have, but this did not stop me from losing my clothing coupons.
· Other engineering and light industries are filling many of the old mills and clothing factories.· A few clothing factories provide work for the women of Scunthorpe.· There is of course nothing new in finding new uses: Malmesbury Abbey after the Reformation became Britain's first clothing factory.· Some other companies employed female workers in clothing factories.· The Plummers - he ran a small clothing factory in Leeds - would have been a boring couple at any time.
· They make leather for the clothing industry and the international recession has taken its toll.· We needed an effective and interesting way of telling our jobseekers about training and job opportunities in the clothing industry.· Does a disorganised clothing industry with little commercial interest in quality simply reflect our own limited needs and aspirations?· They consider that unless the farming methods are tackled, no clothing industry can claim that its product is ecologically sound.· Where are the two main centres for the clothing industry?
· Outdoor clothing manufacturers Craghoppers will be supplying top of the range outdoor clothing as prizes.
VERB· Because your £6 helps buy him protective clothing and helps us provide him with the best equipped boats.· I should mention that I had bought a few items of clothing that morning, before the trial began.· Families on supplementary benefit, now income support, are likely to borrow to buy items of clothing or durable household goods.
· By 1801, the House was providing all the clothing for the prisoners in Bedford gaol.· Although my family hadn't sheltered any prisoners-of-war, we had provided food and clothing, so we too could claim.· As well as those mentioned, there are others too that have been domesticated over the centuries providing food, clothing and transportation.· The programme aimed to provide food, clothing and medical supplies to 1,500,000 people, as well as meeting transport costs.
· You will not be asked to remove any clothing apart from your shoes.
· Is all your equipment seaworthy and suitable? Wear appropriate clothing.· The walks take place in all but the most extreme weather conditions, so please wear suitable outdoor clothing.· Voice over Firefighters wearing special protective clothing made their way through the dense smoke towards the fuel flask.· Always wear the right clothing for the activity you choose - clothing worn too tight can hinder circulation.· He braked but could not avoid the pedestrian whom he thought was wearing dark clothing.· Tests were conducted on students wearing the recommended protective clothing.· Stay still and wear camouflaged clothing and you blend into the bankside vegetation.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- If ever there was a wolf in sheep's clothing this Bill is it.
WORD FAMILYnounclothesclothingadjectiveclothed ≠ unclothedverbclothe
the clothes that people wear: basic necessities such as food and clothing She took only a few items of clothing.► see thesaurus at clothes → a change of clothing at change2(6)COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + clothingwarm clothing· The flood victims need shelter and warm clothing.light clothing (=made from thin materials)· You’ll only need light clothing during the day.outdoor clothing· The shop sells ski-wear and other outdoor clothing.protective clothing· Laboratory technicians have to wear special protective clothing.waterproof clothing· Always take a map, a compass, and waterproof clothing.outer clothing (=that you wear over other clothes)· The men were hastily pulling on some outer clothing.designer clothing (=made by a well-known designer)sports clothingwinter/summer clothingphrasesa piece of clothing· There were pieces of clothing scattered around the room.an item/article of clothing formal (=a piece of clothing)· All items of clothing should be clearly labelled.a layer of clothing· In very cold weather it’s good to wear several layers of clothing.clothing + NOUNthe clothing industry· There are plenty of job opportunities in the clothing industry.a clothing manufacturer· a large clothing manufacturer