dross

noun

ˈdräs

ˈdrȯs

metallurgy : the scum or unwanted material that forms on the surface of molten metal

: waste or foreign matter : impurity

: something that is base (see base entry 3 sense 1), trivial, or inferior

There is quite a lot of dross on TV these days.

a talent for turning literary dross into gold

drossy

ˈdrä-sē

ˈdrȯ-

adjective

Did you know?

Dross has been a part of the English language since Anglo-Saxon times. It comes from the Old English word drōs, meaning "dregs," those solid materials that fall to the bottom of a container full of a liquid such as coffee or wine. While dross today is used to refer to anything of low value or quality, its earliest use is technical: dross is a metallurgy term referring to solid scum that forms on the surface of a metal when it is molten or melting—remove the dross to improve the metal. The metallurgical sense of the word is often hinted at in its general use, with dross set in contrast to gold, as when 19th century British poet Christina Rossetti wrote "Besides, those days were golden days, / Whilst these are days of dross."

Example Sentences

There is quite a lot of dross on TV these days. His editor has a talent for turning literary dross into gold.

Recent Examples on the Web To find something positive amidst much dross — Mamoudou Athie and Dina Shihabi make for able horror leads in this series.

Daniel D'addario, Variety, 11 Jan. 2022 Many of the things left at the sorry corner are manifestly ugly or useless, yet it should not be assumed that this always represents the true dross, that all the promising stuff was taken.

Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021 Many of the things left at the sorry corner are manifestly ugly or useless, yet it should not be assumed that this always represents the true dross, that all the promising stuff was taken.

Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021 Even a drunk Don Draper would be embarrassed to pitch such meaningless dross.

Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2021 The dross is the part where Jesus turns to address the poor man directly, like a real person instead of a prop for conjectural argument, and heals his hand.

Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2020 From the days of the Gold Rush and the earliest years of statehood, visitors to California have noticed dross mixed with the glitter.

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2020 See More

单词	dross
释义	dross noun ˈdräs ˈdrȯs 1 metallurgy : the scum or unwanted material that forms on the surface of molten metal 2 : waste or foreign matter : impurity 3 : something that is base (see base entry 3 sense 1), trivial, or inferior There is quite a lot of dross on TV these days. a talent for turning literary dross into gold drossy ˈdrä-sē ˈdrȯ- adjective Did you know? Dross has been a part of the English language since Anglo-Saxon times. It comes from the Old English word drōs, meaning "dregs," those solid materials that fall to the bottom of a container full of a liquid such as coffee or wine. While dross today is used to refer to anything of low value or quality, its earliest use is technical: dross is a metallurgy term referring to solid scum that forms on the surface of a metal when it is molten or melting—remove the dross to improve the metal. The metallurgical sense of the word is often hinted at in its general use, with dross set in contrast to gold, as when 19th century British poet Christina Rossetti wrote "Besides, those days were golden days, / Whilst these are days of dross." Synonyms chaff deadwood debris dreck drek dust effluvium effluvia garbage junk litter offal offscouring raffle refuse riffraff rubbish scrap spilth trash truck waste See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences There is quite a lot of dross on TV these days. His editor has a talent for turning literary dross into gold. Recent Examples on the Web To find something positive amidst much dross — Mamoudou Athie and Dina Shihabi make for able horror leads in this series. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 11 Jan. 2022 Many of the things left at the sorry corner are manifestly ugly or useless, yet it should not be assumed that this always represents the true dross, that all the promising stuff was taken. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021 Many of the things left at the sorry corner are manifestly ugly or useless, yet it should not be assumed that this always represents the true dross, that all the promising stuff was taken. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021 Many of the things left at the sorry corner are manifestly ugly or useless, yet it should not be assumed that this always represents the true dross, that all the promising stuff was taken. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021 Many of the things left at the sorry corner are manifestly ugly or useless, yet it should not be assumed that this always represents the true dross, that all the promising stuff was taken. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021 Even a drunk Don Draper would be embarrassed to pitch such meaningless dross. Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2021 The dross is the part where Jesus turns to address the poor man directly, like a real person instead of a prop for conjectural argument, and heals his hand. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2020 From the days of the Gold Rush and the earliest years of statehood, visitors to California have noticed dross mixed with the glitter. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2020 See More Word History Etymology Middle English dros, from Old English drōs dregs First Known Use before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 dross noun as in garbage discarded or useless material get rid of the dross before closing up the shop Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance garbage debris rubbish trash junk dust rubble chaff litter dreck deadwood sewage waste offal truck drek scrap effluvium refuse effluvia riffraff wreckage detritus offscouring spilth crud raffle swill wash lumber ruins trumpery flotsam slop jetsam remains dump cull discard castoff straw scrap heap nothing throwaway reject two bits odds and ends hand-me-down Antonyms & Near Antonyms treasure trove gem pearl jewel prize plum treasure trove valuable catch goody goodie salvage find booty See More
随便看	anti-female anti-feminine anti-feminism anti-feminist anti-feminists anti-filibuster anti-flu anti-foaming anti-foreign anti-foreigner anti-formalism anti-formalist anti-fraud anti-French anti-gambling anti-gang anti-gay anti-German anti-glare anti-globalization anti-government anti-green anti-growth anti-guerrilla anti-gun

dross

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun