dust
(dŭst)n.1. Fine, dry particles of matter.
2. A cloud of fine, dry particles.
3. Particles of matter regarded as the result of disintegration: fabric that had fallen to dust over the centuries.
4. a. Earth, especially when regarded as the substance of the grave: "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" (Book of Common Prayer).
b. The surface of the ground.
5. A debased or despised condition.
6. Something of no worth.
7. Chiefly British Rubbish readied for disposal.
8. Confusion; agitation; commotion: won't go back in until the dust settles.
v. dust·ed, dust·ing, dusts
v.tr.1. To remove dust from by wiping, brushing, or beating: dust the furniture.
2. To sprinkle with a powdery substance: dusted the cookies with sugar; dust crops with fertilizer.
3. To apply or strew in fine particles: dusted talcum powder on my feet.
4. Baseball To deliver a pitch so close to (the batter) as to make the batter back away.
v.intr.1. To clean by removing dust.
2. To cover itself with dry soil or other particulate matter. Used of a bird.
Phrasal Verb: dust off To restore to use: dusted off last year's winter coat.
Idioms: in the dust Far behind, as in a race or competition: a marketing strategy that left our competitors in the dust.
make the dust fly To go about a task with great energy and speed.
[Middle English, from Old English dūst.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
dust
(dʌst) n1. dry fine powdery material, such as particles of dirt, earth or pollen
2. a cloud of such fine particles
3. the powdery particles to which something is thought to be reduced by death, decay, or disintegration
4. a. the mortal body of man
b. the corpse of a dead person
5. the earth; ground
6. informal a disturbance; fuss (esp in the phrases kick up a dust, raise a dust)
7. something of little or no worth
8. (Mining & Quarrying) informal (in mining parlance) silicosis or any similar respiratory disease
10. ashes or household refuse
11. bite the dust a. to fail completely or cease to exist
b. to fall down dead
12. dust and ashes something that is very disappointing
13. leave someone or something in the dust to outdo someone or something comprehensively or with ease: leaving their competitors in the dust.
14. shake the dust off one's feet to depart angrily or contemptuously
15. throw dust in the eyes of to confuse or mislead
vb16. (Cookery) (tr) to sprinkle or cover (something) with (dust or some other powdery substance): to dust a cake with sugar; to dust sugar onto a cake.
17. to remove dust by wiping, sweeping, or brushing
18. archaic to make or become dirty with dust
[Old English dūst; related to Danish dyst flour dust, Middle Dutch dūst dust, meal dust, Old High German tunst storm]
ˈdustless adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
dust
(dʌst)
n. 1. earth or other matter in fine dry particles.
2. a cloud of finely powdered earth or other matter in the air.
3. any finely powdered substance, as sawdust.
4. the ground; the earth's surface.
5. the substance to which something, as the dead human body, is ultimately reduced by disintegration or decay.
6. Brit. ashes, refuse, etc.
7. a low or humble condition.
8. anything worthless.
9. disturbance; turmoil.
10. the mortal body of a human being.
11. a single particle or grain.
12. Archaic. money; cash.
v.t. 13. to wipe the dust from.
14. to sprinkle with a powder or dust: to dust crops with insecticide.
15. to strew or sprinkle (a powder, dust, or other fine particles).
16. to soil with dust; make dusty.
v.i. 17. to wipe dust from furniture, woodwork, etc.
18. to become dusty.
19. to apply dust or powder to a plant, one's body, etc.
20. dust off, to prepare to use again, esp. after inactivity or storage.
Idioms: bite the dust, a. to die.
b. to suffer defeat.
c. to become ruined or unusable.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English dūst]
dust′less, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.