dust

1 of 2

noun

ˈdəst 

1

: fine particles of matter (as of earth)

2

: the particles into which something disintegrates

3

a

: something worthless

b

: a state of humiliation

4

a

: the earth especially as a place of burial

b

: the surface of the ground

5

a

: a cloud of dust

b

: confusion, disturbance

6

archaic : a single particle (as of earth)

7

British : refuse ready for collection

dustless

ˈdəst-ləs 

adjective

dustlike

ˈdəst-ˌlīk 

adjective

dust

2 of 2

verb

dusted; dusting; dusts

transitive verb

1

archaic : to make dusty

2

: to make free of dust

dust the living room

3

a

: to sprinkle with fine particles

a cake dusted with sugar

b

: to sprinkle in the form of dust

4

: to throw a fastball close to (a batter) : brush back

—often used with off

5

: to defeat badly (as in a race)

intransitive verb

1

of a bird : to work dust into the feathers

2

: to remove dust

3

: to give off dust

Synonyms

Noun

• chaff
• deadwood
• debris
• dreck
• drek
• dross
• effluvium
• effluvia
• garbage
• junk
• litter
• offal
• offscouring
• raffle
• refuse
• riffraff
• rubbish
• scrap
• spilth
• trash
• truck
• waste

Verb

• annihilate
• blow away
• bomb
• bury
• clobber
• cream
• drub
• flatten
• paste
• rout
• shellac
• skin
• skunk
• smoke [slang]
• smother
• snow under
• thrash
• trim
• tromp
• trounce
• wallop
• wax [slang]
• whip
• whomp
• whop
• whap
• whup

Examples of dust in a Sentence

Noun

The floor was covered with dust.

You can see the dust particles floating through the air.

There is not a speck of dust in that house.

As the car sped down the dirt road, it left a cloud of dust behind.

He wiped the chalk dust off his hands.

Verb

I dust at least once a week.

Dust the pan with flour.

The crops will be dusted with pesticide.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the months that followed, first responders and residents were exposed to a hazardous mix of asbestos, silica dust, heavy metals and other dangerous substances. —Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2025

Allergies and Asthma Allergies and allergic asthma symptoms occur when the immune system overreacts to environmental triggers, such as pollen, dust, or pet dander. —Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 30 Jan. 2025

Verb

The collection also played with contrasting volumes from baggy male skirts to opera coats and dusted pink bows. —Alice Pfeiffer, CNN, 28 Jan. 2025

Use the floor brush for stairs, the crevice tool for windowsills and couch cushions, and the dusting brush for dusty surfaces. —Isabel Garcia, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English dūst; akin to Old High German tunst storm, and probably to Latin fumus smoke — more at fume

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing dust

• angel dust
• as soon as the dust settles
• bite the dust
• cosmic dust
• dust bowl
• dust bunny
• dust devil
• dust jacket
• dust mite
• dust mop
• dust off
• dust oneself down
• dust oneself off
• dust sheet
• dust storm
• dust wrapper
• eat dust
• Eat my dust!
• house dust mite
• kick up dust
• leave (someone) in the dust
• let the dust settle
• the dust settles
• When the dust settled

Kids Definition

dust

1 of 2 noun

ˈdəst 

1

a

: fine dry powdery particles (as of earth)

b

: a fine powder

2

: the powdery remains of bodies once alive

3

: something worthless

4

: the surface of the ground

dust

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make free of dust : brush or wipe away dust

dusted the living room

2

: to sprinkle with dust or as a dust

dust a pan with flour

dust insecticide on plants