dust1 noundust2 verb
dustdust1 /dʌst/ ●●● S3 W3 noun 
WORD ORIGINdust1
Origin:
Old EnglishEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a thick layer of dust on the furniture
- Max brushed the dust off his coat.
- There was a thick layer of dust on the furniture.
- And thus the work went on, and many a Federal and Confederate bit the dust.
- Get some tinsel and some glitter dust if you can.
- In the morning I woke up and turned over; a big cloud of dust rose from the mattress.
- It is easy enough to imagine brushing away a meter or so of dry dust covering an ice deposit.
- Knowing also his hinted promise was likely to be so much dust.
- The wine bottle had a white sheen of dust along one side, the wineglasses were wet from rinsing.
- We don't know whether the dust is toxic.
- When the dust settles, we are the enforcers, the last line of law.
THESAURUS
the top layer of the earth that plants grow in: · Roses do best in well-drained, slightly acid soil.
the brown substance that the ground is made up of: · Thousands of tons of earth were moved to build the dam.
American English loose dry earth: · a pile of loose dirt in the wheelbarrow
a dry powder made up of extremely small bits of earth or sand: · A cloud of dust billowed out behind the tractor.
wet soil that has become soft and sticky: · The dog came back covered in mud.
Longman Language Activatorsomething that makes things dirty dust, mud, or anything else that makes things dirty: · Why is there dirt all over the back seat of the car?· She swept the dirt off the back porch.· He took off his glasses, which were covered with dirt.speck of dirt (=small piece of dirt): · The rooms were cleaned until every speck of dirt and grit was gone.
dry powder that forms a layer on furniture, floors, clothes etc, especially when they have not been cleaned or moved for a long time: · Max brushed the dust off his coat.layer of dust: · There was a thick layer of dust on the furniture.
wet earth that sticks to your shoes, clothes, car, tyres etc: · There's mud all over the carpet.· Hayley scraped the dried mud off her boots.· Their expensive riding jackets were covered in mud.
the harmful effects on water, air, or land of chemicals and waste from factories, cars, modern farming methods etc: · Industrial pollution has killed much of the river's wildlife.· Pollution from cars is the main cause of global warming.· The convention, signed by the six states bordering the Black Sea, aims to reduce current pollution levels.
British informal dirt or mud: · I'll just clean the muck off the windscreen and wing mirrors.be covered in muck: · His hands and fingernails were filthy, his face and legs covered in muck.
thick, dark dirt that covers a surface over a period of time and is difficult to remove: · On one wall of the entryway hangs a large oil painting, covered with grime.· His hands were black with grime from working on the car.
to leave quickly in order to avoid trouble, danger etc · They ran off as soon as they heard the police car coming.run off/away to · My brother ran away to South America to escape his debts.· Zimmerman was so scared, he just ran off.· Why did you run off like that? Was Joey nasty to you?
British informal to leave a place very quickly, often in order to avoid a difficult situation: · Arthur shot off before anyone could say anything.· I've really got to shoot off - I said I'd be home ten minutes ago.
British informal if you do not see someone for dust , they leave somewhere very quickly in order to avoid something, especially something that they should stay for: · If you tell him it's his turn to buy the drinks, you won't see him for dust!
informal to quickly leave a place when something embarrassing or awkward is likely to happen: · You'd better make yourselves scarce before the manager gets here.· When Gary and Clare began to argue, Reg decided to make himself scarce.
no longer being used especially British a disused factory, mine, railway etc is old and not used any more: · The drugs were found in a disused warehouse.· They have been given a grant to convert the disused church into luxury flats.
something that is unused has not yet been used or has not been used for a long time: · His old car sat in the garage, unused.· Batteries which are unused for long periods may have to be recharged.· Unused muscles can feel very sore when you start exercising.
if machines or factories are idle , they are not being used: · stand/sit/lie idle: · Most of the factory stood idle during the strike.· The new machines may sit idle for months until they have been paid for.· Why is millions of pounds worth of state-of-the-art equipment lying idle?
if something such as a machine or a plan gathers dust , it is not being used, especially when it could be useful: · Some of the new equipment is just gathering dust because the staff have not been trained to use it.· The plans lie gathering dust in some government office.
if something falls into disuse , people gradually stop using it because they no longer need or want it: · The canal system fell into disuse around the end of the nineteenth century.· When the old woman died, the house fell into disuse.
WORD SETSairbed, nounair conditioning, nounair freshener, nounappliance, nounbachelor flat, nounback-to-back, nounbackyard, nounballcock, nounbar, nounbarn, nounbarrow, nounbaseboard, nounbasket, nounbay window, nounbeater, nounbedclothes, nounbedding, nounbed linen, nounbedspread, nounbidet, nounblade, nounbleach, nounboard, verbboarding, nounbobbin, nounbog, nounbog roll, nounbolt, nounbolt, verbboom box, nounboudoir, nounbow window, nounbric-a-brac, nounbutler, nouncarpet, nouncarpet, verbcarpeting, nouncasket, nouncement, nouncentral heating, nouncentrepiece, nounchamber, nounchamber pot, nounchange purse, nounchimney breast, nounchimney-piece, nounChristmas stocking, nounChristmas tree, nouncloth, nouncoal, nouncoal scuttle, nouncolour scheme, nouncomforter, nounconvection oven, nounconvector, nouncooker, nouncooler, nouncounterpane, nouncreosote, nouncubbyhole, nouncurtain, nouncurtain hook, nouncushion, noundaily, noundefrost, verbden, noundesk tidy, noundes res, noundetergent, noundimmer, noundomestic, adjectivedomestic, noundomesticated, adjectivedomesticity, noundomestic science, noundomestic service, noundoor, noundormer, noundraughty, adjectivedrive, noundriveway, noundrop cloth, nounduplex, noundust, nounduvet, noundwelling, noundwelling house, nounearthen, adjectiveeggshell, nounempties, nounfire alarm, nounfirelighter, nounflock, nounflooring, nounfluff, nounflush, verbflypaper, nounflyswatter, nounfold, verbfootman, noungarage sale, noungarbage, noungasman, noungas meter, noungate, noungatehouse, noungatepost, noungateway, noungauze, noungingham, nounglass, nounglaze, verbglazing, noungrating, noungroan, verbguardrail, noungutter, nounguttering, nounhall, nounhallway, nounhandkerchief, nounhandyman, nounhang, verbhanging, nounhardware, nounheat, nounheatproof, adjectiveheat-resistant, adjectiveheirloom, nounhelper, nounhot-water bottle, nounhouseboy, nounhousekeeper, nounhousemaid, nounhousewares, nounhumidifier, nounhurricane lamp, nounimmersion, nounimmersion heater, nouninlaid, adjectiveinlay, nouninsulation, nouninterior decorator, nounionizer, nounironwork, nounjumble, nounjumble sale, nounkeepsake, nounkeyhole, nounknocker, nounlag, verblagging, nounlanding, nounlaundry basket, nounlinen, nounloo, nounmaid, nounmaidservant, nounmailbox, nounmajordomo, nounmanor, nounmantelpiece, nounmasking tape, nounmirror, nounmosquito net, nounmote, nounmothball, nounmoulding, nounmouth, nounmove, nounmoving van, nounmullion, nounnewspaper, nounniche, nounnonflammable, adjectivenook, nounobjet d'art, nounodd-job man, nounoilcloth, nounoil-fired, adjectiveornament, nounouthouse, nounoverflow, nounpad, nounpail, nounpaint, nounpaint, verbpaintbrush, nounpainting, nounpalatial, adjectivepaling, nounpalisade, nounpanel, nounpanelled, adjectivepantile, nounpaper, nounpaper, verbpartition, nounparty wall, nounpasskey, nounpaste, nounpatina, nounpebbledash, nounpegboard, nounpencil, nounpencil sharpener, nounpendulum, nounpension, nounpercale, nounpicture rail, nounpiggy-bank, nounpillowcase, nounpin, nounpincushion, nounplace card, nounplace mat, nounplastic wrap, nounplug, nounplughole, nounplumbing, nounplunger, nounpoker, nounpomander, nounpotpourri, nounpress, nounprivy, nounproperty, nounpunkah, nounQ-tip, nounqueen-size, adjectivequilted, adjectiverail, nounrailing, nounrake, verbrambling, adjectiveramp, nounredecorate, verbrelay, verbremote, nounremote control, nounretainer, nounribbon development, nounroller blind, nounrug, nounrumpus room, nounsafety match, nounsanitation worker, nounsconce, nounScotch tape, nounscrapbook, nounscrap paper, nounscreen, nounscreen door, nounscrew, nounscrew top, nounscullery, nounscuttle, nounSellotape, nounsheet, nounshelving, nounshower, nounshutter, nounshuttered, adjectivesink, nounskirting board, nounsliding door, nounsoft furnishings, nounspiral staircase, nounspittoon, nounsponge bag, nounsteam iron, nounstitch, verbstitching, nounstopcock, nounstorage heater, nounstove, nounstripper, nounsump, nounswag, nounswing door, nountablecloth, nountable linen, nountable mat, nountableware, nountaper, nountapestry, nountarpaulin, nountelevision, nountelly, nounterrycloth, nounthinner, nounthrowaway, adjectivethumbtack, nountinsel, nountoilet, nountowel, nountowel rail, nountransistor radio, nountrash can, nountrash compactor, nountread, nountrunk, nountub, nountumble dryer, noununfurnished, adjectivevalance, nounvarnish, nounvase, nounVenetian blind, nounwalk-in, adjectivewall, noun-ware, suffixwastepaper basket, nounwater closet, nounway out, nounWC, nounweathercock, nounweather vane, nounwhite spirit, nounwick, nounwind chimes, nounwindow, nounwindow box, nounwindowpane, nounwindowsill, nounwipe, nounwoodpile, nounwoodshed, nounwrapper, nounwrapping, nounwrapping paper, nounyard, nounyard sale, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs
I didn’t know what to do with it, so it just sat there collecting dust. A pall of thick grey smoke hung over the buildings. A black plume of smoke rose above the city. The furniture was thick with dust (=there was thick dust on the furniture).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· Everything was filthy and covered in dust.
(=become covered with dust)· Piles of old books lay on the floor gathering dust.
phrases· I brushed away the thin layer of dust which covered the picture.
(=a tiny piece of dust)· By the time I'd finished cleaning, there wasn't a speck of dust anywhere.
(=a small piece of dust)· The air is full of dust particles.
literary (=small pieces of dust)· Glittering motes of dust hung in the sunlight.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I didn’t know what to do with it, so it just sat there collecting dust. A pall of thick grey smoke hung over the buildings. A black plume of smoke rose above the city. (=one in which a lot of dust is blown around)· Dust storms are relatively common in the Sahara.
The furniture was thick with dust (=there was thick dust on the furniture).· It went to dust, black dust, very sandy.· Wilson had grown up black with coal dust.· Mix this black dust with oil and eat it.· The rest is covered by an extremely black dust deposit.· The soil where the bombs fell had been pulverised into black dust that had settled on everything.· Fine black dust began to fall, slowly, gently, suspended and swirled by the breeze.· He was kneeling before the fire, his hands and face black with coal dust.· On 15 April 1984 the black dust began blowing off the tailings lake.
· A fine trail of dust dislodged from the door frame and drifted slowly to the ground.· A fine layer of dust rests on everything.· The grains most easily mobilized are small but not as fine as dust.· She could even see it in this thing, the pallor of it, the fine dust of jet black fur.· They left, a cloud of fine dust rising behind them.· The place is apparently being slowly abraded by a fine, stinging dust blown across Patagonia by the unceasing gales.· There was a layer of fine dust: Your feet sank into 3 inches of fine powder, and it was everywhere.
· Meanwhile goods collected by the Worcester Kurdish Refugee Association are gathering dust in a warehouse.· Others were gathering dust by New Year and forgotten by February.· By the autumn of 1975 around 11 percent of fixed capital was gathering dust.
· Freckles and red hair are gold dust.· I found myself thinking, Sunny side of the street. Gold dust at my feet.· But any information from behind the Iron Curtain was treated like gold dust in those days.· A single animal may be dissected down to organs and tissues, and then parceled out like gold dust to waiting biologists.· This, honey, is gold dust.
· In the uranium mines, workers breathe in radioactive dust as they dig out the metal ore which contains the valuable element.· As the fire shed its microscopic radioactive dust over their houses and gardens, they continued to walk about, blissfully unaware.· How much radioactive dust is in my body?· The humans are slowly dying because of the radioactive dust caused by a human war.· Officials have still to decide how the radioactive dust and nuclear fuel inside should be cleaned up.· The doctors there know all about uranium and radioactive dust.· A Department of Environment spokesman said that 1 gram of radioactive dust had been released.
· I ran after him, stumbling in the red dust.· During the dry season, our tracks would just tear up the clay and create a cloud of red dust.· His handprints were still in the red dust on the dashboard months later.· As the first ships flared, red dust billowed up and swallowed them completely.· He kept picturing an old man with a hoe, how the poor guy went skidding through the powdery red dust.
· The room was festooned with cobwebs, the air musty and thick with dust and disuse.· Would not these storms coat solar collectors and solar-cell panels with a thick layer of dust, shutting them down?· More Nassauer infantry were running down the road, their heavy boots stirring a thick dust.· She could see nothing through the thick clouds of dust that choked her.· The air is thick with dust, accumulated over years of not-remembering, years of not wanting to know.· They were thick with dust, Anna said, but they too would never be removed.
· These, she noticed, were covered by white dust sheets.· The wine bottle had a white sheen of dust along one side, the wineglasses were wet from rinsing.· A few remaining palm trees clad in white coral dust looked ghostly in the moonlight.· Every now and then a car rumbled over the bumpy dirt road, leaving behind a whirl of white dust.· The white dust often found on the casing of salami is bacterial and usually contributes to the flavour of the sausage.· Every day a new width of mud showed on each side, and by afternoon the mud had baked into white dust.· Durkin was dressed for motoring in a long white dust coat and cap.· Rory spat bits out of his mouth, blinked the white dust out of his eyes.
NOUN· The House also distinguished McGhee, as in that case the plaintiff's injury was caused by the brick dust.· It meant brick dust and disorder.· The soil is the colour of brick dust, with only deep dry gullies to show that water ever flowed here.
· He looked down at his fingers and noted the chalk dust on their tips.· There were the eternal school smells of chalk dust, wax crayons, cedar shavings, damp wool, and warm children.· Now those slight differences of electrical potential had disappeared, like the chalk dust at the end of the lesson.
· At the edge of the plain a new dust cloud hovered.· Although park emergency systems were mobilized immediately, the dust cloud prevented an immediate search, then darkness made it impossible.· The dust cloud was closer now: about half a verst away.· The dust cloud begins to smear out along the orbit of the comet.· This was followed last year by the announcement that diamonds have been found in dust clouds surrounding forming stars.· From the watchtowers a dust cloud is spied on the horizon.
· The blast, 610m below ground, is thought to have been caused by a mix of coal dust and methane gas.· Jeff even carried out trial runs using rockets stuffed with coal dust.· Wilson had grown up black with coal dust.· Campaigners claim deposits of coal dust released into the atmosphere are a health hazard and a nuisance.· His face was still covered in coal dust and he looked anything but a gent.· For some of the women, selling the coal dust provides their only income to feed their families.· A lever lid tin was used to heat coal dust, using a spirit burner.
· It was a broken hulk, millennia of dust particles covering the displays and floors.· I could see the tiny dust particles in front of my eyes.· It occurs when dust particles high in the atmosphere filter out most of the longer wavelengths of red light.· She also seemed very sensitive to the sunlight and the dust particles streaming into my office.· The bomb blast fractured the ventilating system and spewed dust particles along the system throughout the hospital.· About 30% of the Sun's energy hitting the Earth is reflected back into space by dust particles and cloud.· The dust particles might be better at catching the wind, like fluff on a willow seed.· Swirling dust particles caused him to sneeze and he looked down at the old books and papers with watery eyes.
VERB· Some one should dig it out from the carpet under which it was brushed and blow the dust off it.· The wind began to blow, grass and dust whipping ahead of them as though fleeing the black cloud.· Kobborg and Cojocaru blow away the dust.· The crowd thinning around them, the wind that blew dust and papers past could not interrupt their looking at each other.· The hot wind blows a storm of dust and leaves, and the women retreat into their houses.· Between the moon and my see-through roof a purple storm was blowing the dust of some previous war into the waste spaces.· The clay dries and cracks in the sun, and the top layers are blown off as dust.· Otherwise blow out dust from the keyboard and clean keyboard casing. 5.
· She brushed dust off the toe.· She stopped for a moment to brush the dust from her hands and clothes and set off back to the house.· He brushed a speck of dust from his sleeve as he waited for the silence he required.· He brushed dust from his sleeve and headed towards the flight of stone steps that led up to the embankment.
· The pores were choked with dust, and the tiles were yellow with age.· Balfour slammed his canary-yellow, industrial vacuum truck into gear and roared after the varmint in a cloud of choking brown dust.
· Now I occupy space in your lounge collecting dust.· But I found it collected dust in a corner.· Dried and etched surfaces should be peeled immediately, as they collect dust rapidly.
· Excitement fades to disillusionment, and so another piece of technology goes to gather dust on a storeroom shelf.· Its conclusions were left to gather dust with all the commission reports and suggestions accumulated over the past thirty years.· Each one looked as if it was consulted too often to gather dust.· The Macintosh factory kept churning out gorgeous boxes that gathered dust in dealerships.· In the home of Hildebrand, gathering dust, lay a long, padded box containing a golden rod entwined with roses.· My early 1980s collection, which had fast been gathering dust up in the loft, was now woefully lacking.· The best way to stop it completely is to leave it gathering dust in any store that stocks it.· This results in goods gathering dust and discrepancies occur.
· Some people back there would be cursing us for raising so much dust.· He swept towards me, like the wind raising a storm as soaring eagles raise dust.· As this strong shock wave races outward from the impact site, it raises a storm of dust.· The surface winds are fairly light, but from time to time can raise dust.· These of course raise little or no dust unless the impactor reaches the ocean floor before detonating.· They will not excavate a crater, and therefore raise far less dust than surface bursts with the same yield.· These surface bursts raise vast amounts of dust.
· Carefully remove from tin and dust with icing sugar and cocoa.· Ventilation ducts are cleaned to remove dust and debris, birds and insects.· Remove covers and remove dust, particularly ensuring the area os the fan is clean and unimpeded. 2.· Dry the seeds in a cool, airy place and remove chaff, dust or dirt.· The men breathe air that is filtered to remove any radioactive dust, nerve gases or biological toxins.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► done and dusted► be like gold dust► not see somebody for dust
1[uncountable] dry powder consisting of extremely small bits of dirt that is in buildings on furniture, floors etc if they are not kept clean: - Half of all new restaurants bite the dust in the first year.
- My old car's finally bitten the dust.
- Another good restaurant bites the dust -- end of story, right?
- So what are you going to do, now that your favourite C64 action mag has bitten the dust?
- The finale of Unforgiven is as much a tragedy for the survivors as for those who bite the dust.
- They bite the dust with lead in their bellies.
- Some of the new equipment is just gathering dust because the staff have not been trained to use it.
- The biggest disadvantage to having silk flowers is that they gather dust.
- The plans lie gathering dust in some government office.
- We sold our piano because it was just gathering dust.
- Beck had no intention of letting his report gather dust on the legislative shelves.
- Each one looked as if it was consulted too often to gather dust.
- Excitement fades to disillusionment, and so another piece of technology goes to gather dust on a storeroom shelf.
- In the home of Hildebrand, gathering dust, lay a long, padded box containing a golden rod entwined with roses.
- Its conclusions were left to gather dust with all the commission reports and suggestions accumulated over the past thirty years.
- Millions of these books are shredded yearly or allowed to rot and gather dust in purgatorial existence.
- The Macintosh factory kept churning out gorgeous boxes that gathered dust in dealerships.
- The incinerator became a roaring pillar of flame, its iron bars instantly glowing red hot.
- There was a pillar of smoke then, too.
All the furniture was covered in dust. a thick layer of dust There’s not a speck of dust in the kitchen.gather/collect dust (=become covered with dust) Her old trophies were collecting dust on the shelves. Dust particles floated in the sunlight. A sudden breeze sent motes of dust (=small bits of dust) dancing in the air.2[uncountable] dry powder consisting of extremely small bits of earth or sand: The wind was blowing dust and leaves up from the ground. A car sped past in a cloud of dust.3[uncountable] powder consisting of extremely small bits of a particular substancecoal/brick/chalk etc dust4a dust British English the act of dusting something: I need to give the sitting room a dust.5let the dust settle/wait for the dust to settle to allow or wait for a confused situation to become clear → bite the dust at bite1(8), → dusty, → leave somebody in the dust at leave1(15), → not see somebody for dust at see1(35)COLLOCATIONSverbsbe covered in dust· Everything was filthy and covered in dust.gather/collect dust (=become covered with dust)· Piles of old books lay on the floor gathering dust.phrasesa layer of dust· I brushed away the thin layer of dust which covered the picture.a speck of dust (=a tiny piece of dust)· By the time I'd finished cleaning, there wasn't a speck of dust anywhere.a particle of dust/a dust particle (=a small piece of dust)· The air is full of dust particles.motes of dust/dust motes literary (=small pieces of dust)· Glittering motes of dust hung in the sunlight.dust1 noundust2 verb
dustdust2 ●●○ verb VERB TABLE
dust
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | dust |
| he, she, it | dusts | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | dusted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have dusted |
| he, she, it | has dusted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had dusted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will dust |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have dusted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am dusting |
| he, she, it | is dusting | |
| you, we, they | are dusting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was dusting |
| you, we, they | were dusting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been dusting |
| he, she, it | has been dusting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been dusting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be dusting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been dusting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Dust the top of the cake with cinnamon.
- A maid dusted the furniture.
- A thorough cleaning includes dusting under the wardrobes.
- She decided to dust the dining room furniture again.
- She didn't often dust behind the pictures.
- Fussily, the embalmer dusted the remains of the salt from her body.
- He clambered down, dusted himself off.
- Then he straightened and dusted invisible grains of dirt from the knees of his coveralls.
- We dusted each other down and then it was time to walk home.
Longman Language Activatorto make something clean with a cloth
to remove dirt or liquid from something using a slightly wet cloth: · The waiter was wiping the tables.wipe something up: · If you spill any paint, wipe it up immediately.wipe up something: · Wipe up all that mess before you begin cooking.
to remove dust from furniture, shelves etc using a soft cloth: · She decided to dust the dining room furniture again.dust behind/under etc: · A thorough cleaning includes dusting under the wardrobes.· She didn't often dust behind the pictures.
to make something clean and shiny, for example your shoes or a piece of furniture, by rubbing it with a cloth or brush: · He polished the piano until the wood shone.· a polished wooden floor
to make shoes clean and shiny by rubbing or polishing them with a brush or cloth and shoe polish: · If you're coming, you'd better shine your shoes and put on a clean shirt.have/get your shoes shined: · You should have your shoes shined before the interview.
WORD SETSbin, nounbin liner, nounboil, verbborax, nounBrillo pad, nounbroom, nounbroomstick, nouncarpet sweeper, nounchar, verbchar, nouncharlady, nouncharwoman, nounchimney sweep, nouncleaner, nouncleanser, nounclothes basket, nounclothesline, nounclothes peg, nounconditioner, noundeodorize, verbdescale, verbdisinfect, verbdisinfectant, noundry-clean, verbdust, verbduster, noundustpan, nounfabric softener, nounfeather duster, nounflush, verbFrench polish, nounfumigate, verbhamper, nounHoover, nounhoover, verbhygiene, nounhygienic, adjectivekitchen roll, nounlaundry basket, nounlimescale, nounline, nounload, nounmangle, nounmop, nounmop, verbpolish, nounrag, nounrinse, verbrinse, nounsanitary, adjectivesanitation, nounscour, verbscourer, nounscrub, verbscrub, nounscrubbing brush, nounshampoo, nounsoak, verbsoak, nounsoapflakes, nounsoap powder, nounsoapsuds, nounsoapy, adjectivesoda, nounsoftener, nounspin, verbspin-dryer, nounsqueegee, nounstarch, verbsuds, nounswab, verbsweep, verbsweep, nounsweeper, nounsweepings, nounswill, verbswill, nountea cloth, nountea towel, nountide-mark, nounturpentine, nounturps, nounvacuum, nounvacuum, verbvacuum cleaner, nounwash, nounwashable, adjectivewashboard, nounwashcloth, nounwashday, nounwasher, nounwasher-dryer, nounwashing, nounwashing line, nounwashing machine, nounwashing powder, nounwashing soda, nounwashing-up, nounwashing-up liquid, nounwashtub, nounwhisk broom, nounwindow cleaner, nounwipe, verbwire wool, nounwring, verbwringer, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I didn’t know what to do with it, so it just sat there collecting dust. A pall of thick grey smoke hung over the buildings. A black plume of smoke rose above the city. The furniture was thick with dust (=there was thick dust on the furniture).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
I didn’t know what to do with it, so it just sat there collecting dust. A pall of thick grey smoke hung over the buildings. A black plume of smoke rose above the city. (=one in which a lot of dust is blown around)· Dust storms are relatively common in the Sahara.
The furniture was thick with dust (=there was thick dust on the furniture).· This was my case, dusted down from Granny's attic when they were taking me away from the farm.· Mr Eames and Bill and Thomas collected trays and glasses, decanters were dusted down, all variety of bottles were sought.
· I slipped it into my pocket and dusted off my hands and clothes.· If necessary, dust off the window and sill with a clean paintbrush.· So I settled for dusting off his shoulder and giving it a quick squeeze.· Tuesday, a bit more of that old hostility was dusted off.· Each is dusting off schemes for supporting innovative industry.· In the spring of 1978, it was dusted off for a more compelling reason, namely domestic politics.· Travis dropped his load and dusted off his hands.· She stood up, dusting off her hands and stood before Patrick.
NOUN· A few thousand acres have already gone out of production-you can see the salt on the ground like a dusting of snow.· And the others came forward to dust the snow off Billy, and then they searched him for weapons.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► done and dusted► be like gold dust► not see somebody for dust
1[intransitive, transitive] to clean the dust from a surface by moving something such as a soft cloth across it: - Half of all new restaurants bite the dust in the first year.
- My old car's finally bitten the dust.
- Another good restaurant bites the dust -- end of story, right?
- So what are you going to do, now that your favourite C64 action mag has bitten the dust?
- The finale of Unforgiven is as much a tragedy for the survivors as for those who bite the dust.
- They bite the dust with lead in their bellies.
- Some of the new equipment is just gathering dust because the staff have not been trained to use it.
- The biggest disadvantage to having silk flowers is that they gather dust.
- The plans lie gathering dust in some government office.
- We sold our piano because it was just gathering dust.
- Beck had no intention of letting his report gather dust on the legislative shelves.
- Each one looked as if it was consulted too often to gather dust.
- Excitement fades to disillusionment, and so another piece of technology goes to gather dust on a storeroom shelf.
- In the home of Hildebrand, gathering dust, lay a long, padded box containing a golden rod entwined with roses.
- Its conclusions were left to gather dust with all the commission reports and suggestions accumulated over the past thirty years.
- Millions of these books are shredded yearly or allowed to rot and gather dust in purgatorial existence.
- The Macintosh factory kept churning out gorgeous boxes that gathered dust in dealerships.
- The incinerator became a roaring pillar of flame, its iron bars instantly glowing red hot.
- There was a pillar of smoke then, too.
Rachel dusted the books and the bookshelves. I was dusting in the bedroom when the phone rang.2[transitive] (also dust down, dust off) to remove something such as dust or dirt from your clothes by brushing them with your hands: He got to his feet and dusted his knees.dust yourself (down/off) Corbett dusted himself down and walked off.3[transitive] to put a fine powder over somethingdust something with something Dust the biscuits with icing sugar.dust something ↔ off phrasal verb1to remove something such as dust or dirt from your clothes by brushing them with your hands: They were dusting off leaves and twigs.dust yourself off He got to his feet and dusted himself off.2to get something ready in order to use it again, after not using it for a long time: The government is dusting off schemes for supporting creative industries.