Dress down (8)
This could be a double definition.
'dress' is the first definition.
(I know that dress can be written as preen)
'down' is the second definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for preen that I've seen before include "Groom with great care" , "(Of a bird) tidy and clean feathers" , "Arrange feathers" , "Dress or smooth, feathers say" , "Maintain" .)
'dress down' is the definition.
(chastising is a kind of dressing down)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for chastise that I've seen before include "Beat" , "Censure severely" , "Berate" , "Scold severely" , "Punished severely" .)