dust
Fine dry powdery particles
Very small, dry pieces of dirt or other materials that are in the air or on surfaces.
[amount] of dust
- The bookshelf was covered in a thick layer of dust.
- Dust rose into the air as the car drove down the dirt road.
- She wiped the dust off the picture frame.
- There was dust floating in the sunlight coming through the window.
- There is dust on the table.
- I clean the dust from my desk.
- Dust is in the air when I open the window.
- The floor has a lot of dust.
Remove dust from a surface
To clean something by wiping away dust.
to dust [something]
- I need to dust the living room before our guests arrive.
- She dusted the old books carefully.
- He forgot to dust the shelves this week.
- I dust the table every day.
- She dusts her desk with a cloth.
- We dust the chairs before we sit.
Airborne fine powder from disturbance
Tiny pieces of dirt or other things in the air after something moves or breaks.
- The workers wore masks to protect themselves from construction dust.
- A cloud of volcanic dust covered the town.
- Chalk dust filled the classroom after the lesson.
- There is a lot of dust from the road.
- The wind brings dust into the house.
- Dust from the building makes me cough.
Sprinkle lightly with powder
To put a small amount of powder on something.
to dust [something] with [powder]
- Dust the cake with powdered sugar before serving.
- She dusted her face with a light layer of makeup.
- The chef dusted the steak with spices.
- Dust the bread with sugar.
- He dusts the cake with chocolate.
- I dust my face with powder.
Powdery remains after death
A poetic word for what is left of a body after death; very small pieces like powder.
- We are all but dust in the end.
- From dust you came and to dust you shall return.
- The ancient tomb held only dust where a body once lay.
- The poem says we are all dust.
- He will return to dust after death.
- The body became only dust.
- Base: dust
- Plural: dust
- Base: dust
- 3rd Person Singular: dusts
- Present Participle: dusting
- Past: dusted
bite the dust
1To die or be defeated completely
To die or fail completely.
- Another old building has bitten the dust after years of neglect.
- Several players bit the dust during the tough competition.
dust off
1Prepare something unused for reuse
To take something out after not using it for a long time and get it ready to use again.
- I’m going to dust off my old guitar and start playing again.
- She dusted off her resume before applying for new jobs.
gather dust
1Remain unused and collect dust
To not be used for a long time so that it gets dusty.
- My exercise bike has been gathering dust in the garage for years.
- The old books gathered dust on the shelf.
shake the dust off one's feet
1Leave a place in protest or rejection and not return
To leave somewhere because you strongly disapprove and never want to go back.
- After years of mistreatment, she shook the dust off her feet and left town forever.
- He shook the dust off his feet and vowed never to return.
throw dust in someone's eyes
1Deceive someone intentionally
To try to make someone believe something that is not true.
- The company threw dust in investors’ eyes about its real profits.
- He tried to throw dust in my eyes with his story.