A robe is a loose, flowing garment that wraps around your body and often reaches down to your ankles or knees. The most familiar kind is a bathrobe, which you might wear after a shower or while relaxing at home on a weekend morning. Bathrobes are made of soft, absorbent fabric like terry cloth or cotton, designed for comfort and warmth.

Robes also serve more formal purposes. Judges wear black robes in courtrooms to show the seriousness and authority of their position. Graduates wear robes during graduation ceremonies, a tradition stretching back centuries to when universities first began. Choir members often wear robes during performances to create a unified appearance.

In many religious traditions, robes carry special meaning. Buddhist monks wear saffron-colored robes, Catholic priests wear garments called vestments during Mass, and rabbis might wear robes during services. These robes signal the wearer's role and dedication.

The word can also be used as a verb. When you robe yourself in something, you're putting it on, often ceremonially. A king being crowned might be robed in elaborate garments as part of the ceremony. Whether casual or ceremonial, robes share that characteristic loose, draping fit that sets them apart from more structured clothing.