Empress \Em"press\, n. [OE. empress, emperice, OF. empereis, empereris, fr. L. imperatrix, fem. of imperator. See {Emperor}.] 1. The consort of an emperor. --Shak. 2. A female sovereign. 3. A sovereign mistress. ``Empress of my soul.'' --Shak. {Empress cloth}, a cloth for ladies' dresses, either wholly of wool, or with cotton warp and wool weft. It resembles merino, but is not twilled.