corset

C1 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ˈkɔrsɪt/ UK /ˈkɔːsɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #22229

Meanings

1

noun
a close-fitting, often stiffened undergarment worn to support or shape the torso and waist

The costume included a linen corset reinforced with flexible stays.
2

noun
a rigid or close-fitting medical support worn around part of the body

The surgeon prescribed a spinal corset to support her back during recovery.
3

verb
to fit, enclose, or restrict tightly as if with a corset

The designer corseted the actor before adjusting the outer gown.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a close-fitting, often... stays girdlefoundation garment

2 noun · a rigid or close-fitting... brace support

3 verb · to fit, enclose, or... girdle bind constrain

Opposites

loosen release

Word family

Forms corsets

Derived forms corsetedcorsetingcorsetrycorsetmaker

Related forms bodice stays waist busk

Simplified etymology

Corset comes ultimately from Latin corpus “body” and originally meant a “little body.”

Etymology

From Middle English corset, through Old French corset, a diminutive of cors ('body'), ultimately from Latin corpus. It first denoted a body-fitting garment; later forms developed into the stiffened foundation garment associated especially with European dress from the sixteenth to early twentieth centuries.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# corset

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɔrsɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkɔːsɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 22229

## Meanings
1. a close-fitting, often stiffened undergarment worn to support or shape the torso and waist
2. a rigid or close-fitting medical support worn around part of the body
3. to fit, enclose, or restrict tightly as if with a corset

## Examples
- The costume included a linen corset reinforced with flexible stays.
- The surgeon prescribed a spinal corset to support her back during recovery.
- The designer corseted the actor before adjusting the outer gown.

## Synonyms
- stays
- girdle
- foundation garment
- brace
- bind
- constrain

## Antonyms
- loosen
- release

## Derived Forms
- corseted
- corseting
- corsetry
- corsetmaker

## Related Forms
- bodice
- stays
- waist
- busk

## Etymology
From Middle English corset, through Old French corset, a diminutive of cors ('body'), ultimately from Latin corpus. It first denoted a body-fitting garment; later forms developed into the stiffened foundation garment associated especially with European dress from the sixteenth to early twentieth centuries.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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