dirt

[ durt ]

noun

1. any foul or filthy substance, as mud, grime, dust, or excrement.
2. earth or soil, especially when loose.
3. something or someone vile, mean, or worthless:

   After that last outburst of hers I thought she was dirt.

4. moral filth; vileness; corruption.
5. obscene or lewd language:

   to talk dirt.

6. Informal. gossip, especially of a malicious, lurid, or scandalous nature:

   Tell me all the latest dirt.

   Synonyms: scuttlebutt, rumor, slander, scandal

7. private or personal information which if made public would create a scandal or ruin the reputation of a person, company, etc.
8. Mining.
   1. crude, broken ore or waste.
   2. (in placer mining) the material from which gold is separated by washing.

dirt

/ dɜːt /

noun

1. any unclean substance, such as mud, dust, excrement, etc; filth
2. loose earth; soil
3. 1. packed earth, gravel, cinders, etc, used to make a racetrack
   2. ( as modifier )

      a dirt track

4. mining the gravel or soil from which minerals are extracted
5. a person or thing regarded as worthless
6. obscene or indecent speech or writing
7. slang.
   gossip; scandalous information
8. moral corruption
9. do someone dirt slang.
   do someone dirt to do something vicious to someone
10. dish the dirt informal.
    dish the dirt to spread malicious gossip
11. eat dirt slang.
    eat dirt to accept insult without complaining
12. treat someone like dirt
    treat someone like dirt to have no respect or consideration for someone

Word History and Origins

Origin of dirt¹

1250–1300; Middle English dirt, drit; cognate with Old Norse drit excrement; compare Old English drītan

Word History and Origins

Origin of dirt¹

C13: from Old Norse drit excrement; related to Middle Dutch drēte

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. eat dirt, Informal. to accept blame, guilt, criticism, or insults without complaint; humble or abase oneself:

   The prosecutor seemed determined to make the defendant eat dirt.

2. do (someone) dirt. dirty ( def 18 ).

More idioms and phrases containing dirt

In addition to the idiom beginning with dirt , also see dig up (dirt) ; dish the dirt ; eat crow (dirt) ; hit the deck (dirt) ; pay dirt ; treat like dirt . Also see under dirty .

Example Sentences

Then finally, 125cc and above have manual clutches and four-to-six-speed transmissions, putting them the closest to full-size dirt bikes in terms of required techniques.

From Popular-Science

This scooter has a dedicated press button for easy folding, a mudguard to protect from any flying dirt, and rubber handles for a secure grip.

From Popular-Science

For your equipment, a quick scrub with soapy water removes any dirt or grime, and a spray of your rubbing alcohol spray will bust the remaining bacteria.

From Popular-Science

With every warning, I’d get on the dirt bike and check on the fire.

From Outside Online

They confirmed the idea using synthetic urine and faux lunar dirt.

From Science News For Students

Turns out that wool regulates temperature, repels water, wicks away moisture, and resists stains and dirt.

From The Daily Beast

They slapped and punched him, and when he fell, dragged him through the dirt.

From The Daily Beast

In one case a detainee was dragged naked along the dirt floor.

From The Daily Beast

And Madusa had spent time on motorcycles, dirt bikes and four wheelers, among other rides.

From The Daily Beast

But how is it they never lose that hunger to turn over the next shovel of dirt?

From The Daily Beast

He walked first to one side, and then the other, rooting in the dirt with his funny, rubbery nose.

From Project Gutenberg

Then a shower of dirt flew into their faces and both Jolly Robin and his wife tumbled over backward.

From Project Gutenberg

I pulled the saddle off my horse, slapped it down on the dirt floor, and went stalking up to the long cabin.

From Project Gutenberg

Thence were taken fifteen baskets of gravel and dirt, which has the color of coal, in order to assay it.

From Project Gutenberg

Nor can this dirt be worked without danger of caving in, as was the case in all the veins and works that were on that elevation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• excrement
• ground
• muck
• mud
• soil
• stain