dust-collector

dust-collector

A small dust-collector sits in the corner of a tidy workshop.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A device or machine that removes dust from the air: A "dust-collector" is an apparatus, often industrial or household, designed to capture and separate dust particles from the air, preventing them from settling or being inhaled.
    • A figurative term for something that accumulates dust: Informally, a "dust-collector" can refer to an object, such as a decorative item or unused piece of equipment, that remains idle and gathers dust over time.
Usage Examples
  • Literal use:
    • The factory installed a new dust-collector to improve air quality. (A machine that removes dust from the air in an industrial setting.)
  • Figurative use:
    • That old computer is just a dust-collector in the corner; nobody uses it anymore. (An object that remains idle and accumulates dust.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to be a dust-collector": used metaphorically to describe something that is neglected or unused.
    • The antique vase on the shelf is more of a dust-collector than a decoration. (It is not used or admired, just gathering dust.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Dust collection (noun phrase): the process or system of removing dust.
    • The dust collection system in the workshop is very efficient. (The process of capturing dust.)
  • Dust collector (alternate spelling): same as "dust-collector"; often written without a hyphen.
    • He bought a portable dust collector for his garage. (A device for removing dust.)
  • Dusty (adj): covered with or resembling dust.
    • The bookshelf is very dusty. (Covered in dust.)
Synonyms
  • Vacuum cleaner: a household appliance that sucks up dust and dirt (more specific to home use).
  • Air purifier: a device that cleans the air of pollutants, including dust.
  • Filtration system: a broader term for equipment that removes particles from air or liquids.
Related Idioms
  • Gather dust: to remain unused for a long time, accumulating dust.
    • That old piano has been gathering dust in the attic for years. (It has been neglected and unused.)
  • Dust off: to remove dust from something, often to prepare it for use.
    • He dusted off his old bicycle and took it for a ride. (He cleaned and revived it.)