Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
n. A type of women's evening dress suitable for semi-formal occasions or cocktail parties.
WordNet
n. a dress suitable for formal occasions [syn: sheath]
Wikipedia
A cocktail dress or cocktail gown is a woman's dress worn at cocktail parties and semi-formal or " black tie" occasions.
Historically the length of a cocktail dress is long, often touching the ankle. When it is about 5 cm (2 inches) above the ankle it is called tea length and when it is almost touching the ankle it is called ballerina length, although ballerina length dresses usually fall into the evening gown category.
The modern definition of a cocktail dress is commonly taken to mean a shorter dress above the knee. It must be smart, such as the little black dress, and may have sequins or lace as a feature.
At semi-formal occasions, a less elaborate, shorter-length cocktail dress may be worn. Prior to the mid 20th century this type of dress was known as 'late afternoon'. When gentlemen are in business suits, ladies also wear dress suits or "good" afternoon skirt and dresses.
In the mid-20th century, some couturiers began describing full-skirted cocktail gowns as "dancing costumes". These are suitable for formal dances but not for balls, or other white tie affairs, where ball gowns are worn.
Christian Dior was the first to use the term "cocktail dress" to refer to early evening wear, in the late 1940s.
Usage examples of "cocktail dress".
I saw a middle-aged woman in a cocktail dress, tippling in the phone booth when I moved in.
The green cocktail dress was gone, probably dissected by a pair of surgical scissors in the emergency room the night before, along with my tatty underwear.
Also, an olive-green cocktail dress I'd forgotten about, given to me by a woman who was later blown to bits.
Yvette herself had reverted to the sort of over-tight and low cut shift she'd avoided since the earliest days, this one a cream cocktail dress that didn't need the multi-stranded necklace or the long drop earrings.
Stylishly attired in a short black cocktail dress after attending a party with the admiral, she gazed with amusement at Sandecker's nervousness.
Then a skinny brunette in a flouncy cocktail dress stepped onto the bandstand.
Estella's lipstick was a shade or two darker than her cocktail dress.
Karen Morrow in a green cocktail dress, her shoulders beaded with rain.
Kelly was about to answer when the door opened and her mother reappeared, in the cream-colored Bill Blass cocktail dress she had bought when she first found out about Gerard and Francesca.
She was wearing a short, black cocktail dress and black fuck-me pumps.