Dirt: meaning, definitions and examples

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dirt

[ dərt ]

Noun / Verb

Oxford 3000

^{Context #1 | Noun}

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 | Noun}

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 | Verb}

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

Etymology

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.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,427 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

...
5424 continental
5425 conceptual
5426 reliance
5427 dirt
5428 vacation
5429 shield
5430 altar
...