dust-bowl
Definition
- Noun:
- A region of severe drought and dust storms: "dust-bowl" refers to an area, especially in the Great Plains of the United States, that experiences prolonged drought and intense dust storms, often due to poor agricultural practices and wind erosion.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The 1930s Dust Bowl devastated the American Midwest, causing mass migration. (A historical period of severe drought and dust storms.)
- Farmers in the dust-bowl region struggled to grow crops as topsoil blew away. (An area affected by drought and dust storms.)
Advanced Usage
"Dust Bowl" as a proper noun: Often capitalized to refer specifically to the historical event in the 1930s in the US.
- The Dust Bowl was one of the worst environmental disasters of the 20th century. (The specific drought-affected region during the 1930s.)
"dust-bowl conditions": Used to describe weather or soil conditions similar to those of the Dust Bowl.
- The region is now experiencing dust-bowl conditions due to overgrazing. (Drought and dust storms comparable to the historical event.)
Variants and Related Words
Dust (n): fine, dry particles of earth or other matter.
- A layer of dust covered the furniture. (Fine particles of dirt.)
Bowl (n): a round, deep dish or container; also used metaphorically for a geographic basin.
- She filled the bowl with soup. (A container for food.)
Synonyms
- Drought zone: an area suffering from lack of rainfall.
- Desertified land: land that has become desert-like due to human activity and climate.
Related Idioms
"to blow away like dust": to disappear or be destroyed easily.
- His hopes blew away like dust in the wind. (His hopes vanished quickly and completely.)
"dust settles": to wait for a situation to become calm after a disturbance.
- After the argument, let the dust settle before discussing it again. (Wait for emotions to calm down.)