adjective | adverb | verb
dirtydirty1 /ˈdɚt̮i/ ●●● S2 W3 adjective (comparative dirtier, superlative dirtiest) 1
NOT CLEAN not clean OPP clean: How did the floor get so dirty? There was a stack of dirty dishes in the sink. Put your dirty clothes in the washing machine.THESAURUSfilthy – very dirty: The carpet was filthy – I didn’t even want to walk on it.dusty – covered with dust: There were piles of dusty books around the room.muddy – covered in mud: Take off those muddy hiking boots before you come in the house.greasy – covered with a lot of oil or grease (=an oily substance): There were greasy fingerprints on the glasses.grimy – covered in a lot of dirt, grease, etc. that seems to be stuck onto the surface: The mechanic wiped his grimy hands on a towel.soiled formal – made dirty, especially by waste from your body: We use this pail for soiled diapers.polluted – made dirty from chemicals or waste. Used about air, land, or water: You can’t swim in the river – it’s too polluted.contaminated formal – not safe to use because of harmful chemicals or bacteria. Used about water, food, or land: Several people became sick after drinking contaminated water.2SEX relating to sex, in a way that is considered bad or immoral: He hid the dirty magazines under his bed. Ed told us a dirty joke. That’s not what I meant! You have such a dirty mind.3BAD/IMMORAL used to emphasize that you think something is bad, dishonest, or immoral: Having to lay employees off is a dirty job. He played a dirty trick on me. Journalists have discovered the mayor’s dirty little secret: his criminal record for drug possession.4give somebody a dirty look to look at someone in a very disapproving way: My cell phone rang during the meeting and Jack gave me a really dirty look.5something is a dirty word (also something has become a dirty word) used to say that people believe something is a bad thing even if they do not know or think much about it: “Liberal” has somehow become a dirty word in America.6dirty tricks dishonest or illegal activities, especially done by a government, political group, or company, such as spreading false information about their competitors or opponents7do somebody’s dirty work to do something bad or dishonest for someone so that he or she does not have to do it: Tell Fran I’m not going to do her dirty work for her.8it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it used to say that something is unpleasant to do, but that it is necessary9wash your dirty laundry/linen in public (also air your dirty laundry/linen in public) to discuss something embarrassing or bad about yourself where everyone can know, see, or hear10dirty pool unfair or dishonest behavior: They shouldn’t charge you for that. It’s just dirty pool.11DRUGS slang containing or possessing illegal drugs adjective | adverb | verb
dirtydirty2 adverb 1dirty rotten spoken extremely dishonest or unkind: What a dirty rotten trick!2play dirty informal a)to behave in a very unfair and dishonest way: Warren was willing to play dirty in order to get the job. b)to cheat in a game: I hate playing basketball with Bill – he always plays dirty.3talk dirty informal to talk about sex using words that are offensive or obscene adjective | adverb | verb
dirtydirty3 verb (dirties, dirtied, dirtying) [transitive] 1to make something dirty: You can borrow my gloves, but please try not to dirty them.2to make someone feel or seem bad, dishonest, or immoral SYN sully: The army’s actions dirtied its reputation.3dirty your hands (with something) to do hard work, especially physical work in which your hands get dirty: Why dirty your hands when you can hire someone to do the work?