1 (also salad dressing) [mass noun] a sauce for salads, typically one consisting of oil and vinegar with herbs or other flavourings:vinaigrette dressing [mass noun]:sprinkle each salad lightly with dressing
North American stuffing:turkey with apple dressing
2a piece of material used to cover and protect a wound:an antiseptic dressing
3 [mass noun] size or stiffening used in the finishing of fabrics:fabrics finished with dressing will work successfully when cut an inch wide
4a fertilizing substance such as compost or manure spread over or ploughed into land:a dressing of blood, fish, and bone