Definition

1. Noun:

   • Fine, dry particles of matter: Very small, loose pieces of earth, dirt, or other material that are light enough to be carried by the air.
   • A cloud of such particles: A mass of these fine particles visible in the air or on a surface.
   • The remains of something destroyed: What is left after something has been completely broken down or disintegrated.
   • A state of being covered with such particles: The condition of having a layer of fine particles on a surface.

2. Verb:

   • To remove dust: To clean a surface by wiping or brushing away fine particles.
   • To sprinkle with a fine layer: To cover something lightly with a powdery substance.
   • To make dusty: To cause dust to rise or settle on something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The old bookshelves were covered in a thick layer of dust.
  • A cloud of dust rose from the dirt road as the car passed.
  • The ancient vase had crumbled to dust over the centuries.

• Verb:

  • Please dust the furniture before the guests arrive.
  • Dust the cake with powdered sugar for decoration.
  • The passing trucks dusted the roadside plants with fine dirt.

Advanced Usage

• "to bite the dust": To be defeated, killed, or to fail.
  • After a long battle, the old software finally bit the dust.
• "to gather dust": To remain unused for a long time.
  • My guitar has been gathering dust in the attic for years.
• "to throw dust in someone's eyes": To deceive or mislead someone.
  • The politician tried to throw dust in the voters' eyes with vague promises.

Variants and Related Words

• Dusty (adj): Covered with or resembling dust.
  • The attic was dark and dusty.
• Duster (n): A cloth or tool used for removing dust.
  • She used a feather duster on the shelves.

Synonyms

• Noun: Dirt, powder, grime, particles, debris.
• Verb: Wipe, clean, sprinkle, powder, sift.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Dust off: To prepare something old for use again; to remove dust from something.
  • I need to dust off my old resume and start applying for jobs.
• Dust down: To brush or wipe dust or dirt from something.
  • He stood up and dusted down his trousers after the fall.

Related Idioms

• "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust": A phrase from a burial service, meaning that humans return to the earth after death.
  • The ceremony ended with the solemn words, "ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
• "Not see someone for dust": To see someone leave very quickly.
  • When he heard the ice cream truck, you wouldn't see him for dust.

Noun

1. free microscopic particles of solid material
   • astronomers say that the empty space between planets actually contains measurable amounts of dust
2. the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
3. fine powdery material such as dry earth or pollen that can be blown about in the air
   • the furniture was covered with dust

Verb

1. distribute loosely
   • He scattered gun powder under the wagon
2. cover with a light dusting of a substance
   • dust the bread with flour
3. 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
4. remove the dust from
   • dust the cabinets