dung

[duhng]

noun

1. excrement, especially of animals; manure.

verb (used with object)

1. to manure (ground) with or as if with dung.

dung

/ dʌŋ /

noun

1. 1. excrement, esp of animals; manure

   2. ( as modifier )

      dung cart

2. something filthy

verb

1. (tr) to cover (ground) with manure

Other Word Forms

• dungy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dung¹

before 1000; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Low German, German dung; compare Icelandic dyngja heap, dung, Swedish dynga dung, muck, Old High German tunga manuring

Word History and Origins

Origin of dung¹

Old English: prison; related to Old High German tunc cellar roofed with dung, Old Norse dyngja manure heap

Example Sentences

Recently, that helped them catch a suspected nighthawker hiding behind a pile of manure after his footprints on the fresh dung heap shone up on thermal imaging.

From BBC

And when describing her underachieving brother’s shortcomings, she says, “He’s got the brains of a dung beetle and the ambitions of a French bureaucrat.”

From Los Angeles Times

The dung beetle, which disperses seeds as it rolls its dung balls, fertilizing topsoil and enhancing biodiversity and engineering its environment, normally orients itself using the Milky Way and the moon.

From Salon

Other scientists praise the study’s innovative use of high-resolution imaging technology to turn dollops of dung into goldmines of information.

From Science Magazine

In 10 to 12 days, adults surface to feast for roughly 90 days on honeydew melon, decaying fruit, plant nectar and bird dung.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• droppings 
• feces 
• manure 
• poop