Dirt vs. Dust

Dirt vs. Dust — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Dirt and Dust

Dirtnoun

Soil or earth.

Dustnoun

(uncountable) Fine, dry particles of matter found in the air and covering the surface of objects, typically consisting of soil lifted up by the wind, pollen, hair, etc.

Dirtnoun

A stain or spot (on clothes etc); any foreign substance that worsens appearance, filth

Dustnoun

(countable) The act of cleaning by dusting.

Dirtnoun

Previously unknown facts, or the invented "facts", about a person; gossip; kompromat

The reporter uncovered the dirt on the businessman by going undercover.

Dustnoun

(obsolete) A single particle of earth or other material.

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Dirtnoun

(figurative) Meanness; sordidness.

Dustnoun

The earth, as the resting place of the dead.

Dirtnoun

(mining) In placer mining, earth, gravel, etc., before washing.

Dustnoun

The earthy remains of bodies once alive; the remains of the human body.

Dirtnoun

freckles

Dustnoun

(figurative) Something worthless.

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Dirtverb

To make foul or filthy; soil; befoul; dirty

Dustnoun

(figurative) A low or mean condition.

Dirtnoun

the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock

Dustnoun

cash; money (in reference to gold dust).

Dirtnoun

the state of being covered with unclean things

Dustnoun

(mathematics) A totally disconnected set of points with a fractal structure.

Dirtnoun

obscene terms for feces

Dustverb

(transitive) To remove dust from.

The cleaning lady needs a stool to dust the cupboard.

Dirtnoun

disgraceful gossip about the private lives of other people

Dustverb

(intransitive) To remove dust; to clean by removing dust.

Dusting always makes me cough.

Dirtadjective

(of roads) not leveled or drained; unsuitable for all year travel

Dustverb

(intransitive) Of a bird, to cover itself in sand or dry, dusty earth.

Dustverb

(transitive) To spray or cover something with fine powder or liquid.

The mother dusted her baby's bum with talcum powder.

Dustverb

To leave; to rush off.

Dustverb

To reduce to a fine powder; to levigate.

Dustnoun

fine powdery material such as dry earth or pollen that can be blown about in the air;

the furniture was covered with dust

Dustnoun

the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up

Dustnoun

free microscopic particles of solid material;

astronomers say that the empty space between planets actually contains measurable amounts of dust

Dustverb

remove the dust from;

dust the cabinets

Dustverb

rub the dust over a surface so as to blur the outlines of a shape;

The artist dusted the charcoal drawing down to a faint image

Dustverb

cover with a light dusting of a substance;

dust the bread with flour

Dustverb

distribute loosely;

He scattered gun powder under the wagon