noun
dust
duhst
noun
1
Fine, dry particles of dirt, skin, pollen, and other matter that settle on surfaces or float in the air.
"A thick layer of dust covered the old piano."
"Sunlight caught the dust drifting through the air."
verb
1
To wipe or brush dust off a surface.
"She dusted the shelves before the guests arrived."
2
To sprinkle a fine powder or substance over something.
"He dusted the cake with icing sugar."
How to Use Dust
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTiny dry particles that collect on surfaces, or the act of removing them / sprinkling a powder.
Common mistake
The verb "dust" can mean opposite things depending on context — "dust the shelf" (remove dust) versus "dust the cake" (add powder). Context makes the meaning clear.
Common pairings
dust off
collect dust
a speck of dust
dust the furniture
Word Forms
dusted past tense, dusts plural, Dusts plural, dusts singular
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Etymology
From Old English dūst, "dried earth reduced to powder," tracing back to a very old root meaning "to smoke" or "raise a haze" — the same root behind "dusk."