► dirty not clean: How did the floor get so dirty? There was a stack of dirty dishes in the sink.
► filthy 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.