What does "frock" mean?
A dress, a piece of clothing, which consists of a skirt and a cover for the upper body.
Frock
/fɹɑk/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A dress, a piece of clothing, which consists of a skirt and a cover for the upper body.
- Grammar: frock is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: dress, attire, bib and tucker, blazer.
- Useful contrasts: casual dress, civilian dress, disrobe.
- Usage evidence: Her face was turned away as we entered, but we could see that she was dressed in a red frock, and that she had long white gloves on.
How to use "frock"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "frock" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "frock" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "frock" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "frock" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "frock" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "dress" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "frock", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A dress, a piece of clothing, which consists of a skirt and a cover for the upper body.
- 2 A frog. dialectal
- 3 a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice wordnet
- 4 An outer garment worn by priests and other clericals; a habit.
- 5 a habit worn by clerics wordnet
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A sailor's jersey.
- 7 a long, loose outer garment wordnet
- 8 An undress regimental coat.
Verb
- 1 To clothe (somebody) in a frock. transitive
"[…] Mrs. Parmly-Coles, in thus frocking her daughter, was no jealous cat but a pearl among mothers."
- 2 put a frock on wordnet
- 3 To make (somebody) a cleric. transitive
- 4 To grant to an officer the title and uniform of a rank he will soon be promoted to. US, transitive
"MajGen Richard G. Schulze […] was selected for two-star rank by members of the January selection board. He was frocked on 27 Jan and assigned new duties as CG, MCRD, San Diego."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Example
"Her face was turned away as we entered, but we could see that she was dressed in a red frock, and that she had long white gloves on."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "frock"?
Common synonyms include: dress, attire, bib and tucker, blazer, boot, canonize.
How do you use "frock" in a sentence?
Her face was turned away as we entered, but we could see that she was dressed in a red frock, and that she had long white gloves on.
How do you pronounce "frock"?
Pronounced /fɹɑk/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English frok, frokke, from Old French froc (“frock, a monk's gown or habit”), perhaps via Medieval Latin hrocus, roccus, rocus (“a coat”), from Frankish *hrokk (“skirt, dress, robe”), from Proto-Germanic *hrukkaz (“robe, jacket, skirt, tunic”), from Proto-Indo-European *kreḱ- (“to weave”). Cognate with Old High German hroch, roch (“skirt, dress, cowl”) – whence German Rock (“skirt, coat”) –, Saterland Frisian Rok (“skirt”), Dutch rok (“skirt, petticoat”), Old English rocc (“an overgarment, tunic, rochet”), Old Norse rokkr (“skirt, jacket”), whence Danish rok (“garment”).
Etymology 2
From Middle English frock, froke, from Old Norse frauki (“frog”), related to Old English frocga (“frog”). More at frog.