apply vs dress

apply is not a noun while dress is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
apply	No	No	Yes	No
dress	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

As verbs, dress is a hyponym of apply; that is, dress is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than apply:

Other hyponyms of apply include dab, swab, swob, daub, gum, cream, cold-cream, putty, sponge on, clap on, slam on, slap on.

apply (noun)	dress (noun)
	a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
	clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
	clothing in general

apply (adjective)	dress (adjective)
	(of an occasion) requiring formal clothes
	suitable for formal occasions

apply (verb)	dress (verb)
ask (for something)	put on clothes
refer (a word or name) to a person or thing	provide with clothes or put clothes on
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose	apply a bandage or medication to
coat, cover or smear a surface with	arrange attractively
give or convey physically	dress or groom with elaborate care
avail oneself to	give a neat appearance to
ensure observance of laws and rules	dress in a certain manner
apply oneself to	kill and prepare for market or consumption
be pertinent or relevant or applicable	convert into leather
be applicable to; as to an analysis	put a dressing on
	put a finish on
	cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
	provide with decoration
	cut down rough-hewn (lumber) to standard thickness and width
	decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods
	arrange in ranks