Cool MateDust
UK /["/dʌst/"]/US /["/dʌst/"]/
Definition
a fine powder that consists of very small pieces of sand, earth, etc.
In simple words: Very small, dry pieces of dirt or other substances.
Examples
- I need to clean the dust off the shelves.
- The old book was covered in a thick layer of dust.
- After the storm, there was dust everywhere outside.
- The farmer used a machine to dust the crops with pesticide.
- She decided to dust the furniture before the guests arrived.
Usage notes
Use 'dust' in contexts related to cleaning or describing dirty surfaces. It is not usually used in a formal context, more in everyday conversations.
Grammar pattern
dust + object
Memory hint
Imagine a dusty shelf where a book is waiting to be dusted off.
Collocations
- fine
- airborne
- radioactive
- cloud
- layer
- particle
- collect
- gather
- be covered in
- lie
- coat something
- cover something
- cloud
- grain
- mote
- fine
- airborne
- radioactive
- cloud
- layer
- particle
- collect
- gather
- be covered in
- lie
- coat something
- cover something
- cloud
- grain
- mote
- fine
- airborne
- radioactive
- cloud
- layer
- particle
- collect
- gather
- be covered in
- lie
- coat something
- cover something
- cloud
- grain
- mote
Synonyms
- powder
- dirt
- grime
- residue
- filth
Antonyms
- clean
- polish
- shine
Common mistakes
- Confused with 'dust' as a verb and a noun
- Incorrectly using 'dusts' as a plural form
- Not using 'dust off' when referring to removing dust