gown

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A long loose flowing garment, such as a robe or nightgown.
2. n. A long, usually formal dress for a woman.
3. n. A robe or smock worn in operating rooms and other parts of hospitals as a guard against contamination.
4. n. A distinctive outer robe worn on ceremonial occasions, as by scholars or clerics.
5. n. The faculty and student body of a university: perfect accord between town and gown.
6. v. To clothe (oneself or another) with a gown.
7. v. To dress in a gown.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. An outer garment, generally long and loose, of various shapes and uses. Specifically— A long and loose outer robe usually worn by men at the beginning of the fifteenth century and later, and by women continuously from an early date in the middle ages; essentially, a garment meant to be girded at the waist, somewhat close-fitting above and large and loose below.
2. n. Same as dress, 2. [Dress is preferred for a garment cut to fit the person, the gown being more properly a loose garment hanging from the shoulders. Compare .]
3. n. A loose garment worn in the house; a wrapper: as, a dressing-gown; a night-gown.
4. n. A long and loose over-dress, of varying styles, worn distinctively on official occasions in Europe, and less commonly in America, by clergymen, judges, lawyers, and university professors and students; hence, the emblem of civil power or place, as opposed to the sword.
5. n. The toga.
6. To invest with a gown; clothe or dress in a gown; hence, to impart the function represented by the gown to.
7. To put on a gown.

Wiktionary

1. n. A loose, flowing upper garment.
2. n. The ordinary outer dress of a woman; as, a calico or silk gown.
3. n. The official robe of certain professional men and scholars, as university students and officers, barristers, judges, etc.; hence, the dress of peace; the dress of civil officers, in distinction from military.
4. n. The university community.
5. n. A loose wrapper worn by gentlemen within doors; a dressing gown.
6. n. Any sort of dress or garb.
7. n. The robe worn by a surgeon.
8. v. To dress in a gown, to don or garb with a gown.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A loose, flowing upper garment.
2. n. The ordinary outer dress of a woman.
3. n. The official robe of certain professional men and scholars, as university students and officers, barristers, judges, etc.; hence, the dress of peace; the dress of civil officers, in distinction from military.
4. n. A loose wrapper worn by gentlemen within doors; a dressing gown.
5. n. Any sort of dress or garb.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the members of a university as distinguished from the other residents of the town in which the university is located
2. n. a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
3. n. outerwear consisting of a long flowing garment used for official or ceremonial occasions
4. n. lingerie consisting of a loose dress designed to be worn in bed by women
5. n. protective garment worn by surgeons during operations
6. v. dress in a gown