Dirt: meaning, definitions and examples

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dirt

[ dərt ]

^{Context #1}

on the ground

Soil or earth, especially when loose or compacted.

Synonyms

earth, grime, mud, soil

Examples of usage

The children were playing in the dirt.
She wiped the dirt off her shoes.
The dirt road was bumpy and dusty.

^{Context #2}

informal

Dishonest or shameful behavior; scandalous or immoral actions.

Synonyms

gossip, muck, scandal, slander

Examples of usage

He uncovered the dirt on the corrupt politician.
There's a lot of dirt in the entertainment industry.

^{Context #3}

informal

To soil with mud, dust, or dirt.

Synonyms

pollute, smudge, stain, tarnish

Examples of usage

The dog dirtied the freshly washed carpet.
She accidentally dirtied her white dress.

Translations

Translations of the word "dirt" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sujeira

🇮🇳 गंदगी

🇩🇪 Schmutz

🇮🇩 kotoran

🇺🇦 бруд

🇵🇱 brud

🇯🇵 汚れ (よごれ)

🇫🇷 saleté

🇪🇸 suciedad

🇹🇷 kir

🇰🇷 더러움

🇸🇦 قذارة

🇨🇿 špína

🇸🇰 špina

🇨🇳 污垢 (wūgòu)

🇸🇮 umazanija

🇮🇸 skítur

🇰🇿 кір

🇬🇪 ჭუჭყი

🇦🇿 çirk

🇲🇽 suciedad

Word origin

The word 'dirt' has Old English origins, derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'durtan', meaning ground, soil. Over time, the word evolved to refer to soil or earth, as well as to describe dishonest or scandalous behavior. The use of 'dirt' to imply scandalous actions became more common in informal language. Today, 'dirt' is a versatile word that can describe both physical material on the ground and immoral behavior.