verb
dress
To prepare food for cooking or serving.
She dresses the salad with olive oil and lemon juice.
Etymology
The older verb means to arrange or prepare. This cooking sense preserves the broad preparation action, making food ready for cooking or for the table.
More examples
- The fishmonger dresses the trout before wrapping it for us.
- Dress the greens just before serving so they stay crisp.
- He dressed the roast with herbs before putting it in the oven.
Forms
dress · dresses · dressed · dressing
dressing noun — A sauce added to salads for flavor.