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dust
/dʌst/
fine powder
The furniture was covered in a thick layer of dust.
The furniture had a lot of fine, dry powder on its surface.
general
Fine, dry powder consisting of small particles of earth or waste matter.
She wiped the dust off the shelves every week.
She removed the fine powder from the shelves regularly.
The old books were yellowed with dust.
The old books had a layer of fine powder making them appear yellowed.
Often refers to accumulated dirt in homes or outdoor settings.
general
To remove dust from a surface by wiping or brushing.
He dusted the furniture before the guests arrived.
He cleaned the furniture by removing the fine powder before guests came.
Commonly used in household chores.
general
To cover or sprinkle with a powdery substance.
The baker dusted the cake with powdered sugar.
The baker lightly covered the cake with a fine, white powder.
Often used in cooking or baking contexts.
Collocations
dust offremove dust from a surfacedust storma strong wind carrying clouds of dustdust jacketa protective paper cover for a book
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish noun and verb uses
As a noun, 'dust' refers to the substance itself (e.g., 'There's dust on the table'). As a verb, it means to remove dust (e.g., 'She dusts the shelves').
Gold Rule
Pronunciation of 'dust'
The 'u' in 'dust' is pronounced like the 'u' in 'cup' (/ʌ/), not like the 'u' in 'cute'.
Word Origin
Old English 'dūst', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'stof' and German 'Staub'.
Usage Notes
As a verb, 'dust' often implies gentle action (e.g., dusting furniture). In contrast, 'clean' or 'wipe' may imply more thorough action.
Word Breakdown
dust
fine powder
rootEnglish Dictionary