dirt

[ durt ]

/ dɜrt /

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See synonyms for dirt on Thesaurus.com

noun

any foul or filthy substance, as mud, grime, dust, or excrement.

earth or soil, especially when loose.

something or someone vile, mean, or worthless: After that last outburst of hers I thought she was dirt.

moral filth; vileness; corruption.

obscene or lewd language: to talk dirt.

Informal. gossip, especially of a malicious, lurid, or scandalous nature: Tell me all the latest dirt.

private or personal information which if made public would create a scandal or ruin the reputation of a person, company, etc.

Mining.

crude, broken ore or waste.
(in placer mining) the material from which gold is separated by washing.

OTHER WORDS FOR dirt

6 scandal, slander, rumor, scuttlebutt.

See synonyms for dirt on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about dirt

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

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.

Origin of dirt

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

Words nearby dirt

Dirksen, dirl, dirndl, Dirofilaria, dir. prop., dirt, dirt bag, dirt bike, dirt-cheap, dirt dauber, dirt-eating

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use dirt in a sentence

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.
Your kid wants a dirt bike. Here’s what to buy them.|By Serena Bleeker/Dirt Rider|September 4, 2020|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.
The best scooters for a smooth commute or cruise|PopSci Commerce Team|September 3, 2020|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.
Working out at home? Here’s how to keep your house from smelling like a gym.|Harry Guinness|September 3, 2020|Popular-Science
With every warning, I’d get on the dirt bike and check on the fire.
How We Saved Our Neighborhood from a Wildfire|Dain Zaffke|September 2, 2020|Outside Online

They confirmed the idea using synthetic urine and faux lunar dirt.
Here’s the summer science you might have missed|Janet Raloff|September 1, 2020|Science News For Students
Turns out that wool regulates temperature, repels water, wicks away moisture, and resists stains and dirt.
The Coolest Fashion Innovations of 2014|Raquel Laneri|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They slapped and punched him, and when he fell, dragged him through the dirt.
Inside the CIA’s Sadistic Dungeon|Tim Mak|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In one case a detainee was dragged naked along the dirt floor.
Inside the CIA’s Sadistic Dungeon|Tim Mak|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And Madusa had spent time on motorcycles, dirt bikes and four wheelers, among other rides.
The Moms of Monster Jam Drive Trucks, Buck Macho Culture|Eliza Krigman|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But how is it they never lose that hunger to turn over the next shovel of dirt?
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark|Alex Belth|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He walked first to one side, and then the other, rooting in the dirt with his funny, rubbery nose.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
Then a shower of dirt flew into their faces and both Jolly Robin and his wife tumbled over backward.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
I pulled the saddle off my horse, slapped it down on the dirt floor, and went stalking up to the long cabin.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Thence were taken fifteen baskets of gravel and dirt, which has the color of coal, in order to assay it.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
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.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various

British Dictionary definitions for dirt

dirt

/ (dɜːt) /

noun

any unclean substance, such as mud, dust, excrement, etc; filth

loose earth; soil

packed earth, gravel, cinders, etc, used to make a racetrack
(as modifier)a dirt track

mining the gravel or soil from which minerals are extracted

a person or thing regarded as worthless

obscene or indecent speech or writing

slang gossip; scandalous information

moral corruption

do someone dirt slang to do something vicious to someone

dish the dirt informal to spread malicious gossip

eat dirt slang to accept insult without complaining

treat someone like dirt to have no respect or consideration for someone

Word Origin for dirt

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with dirt

dirt

In addition to the idiom beginning with dirt

dirt cheap
dirty joke
dirty look, give a
dirty one's hands
dirty tricks
dirty work

also see:

dig up (dirt)
dish the dirt
eat crow (dirt)
hit the deck (dirt)
pay dirt
treat like dirt

Also see underdirty.

dirt

OTHER WORDS FOR dirt

Idioms about dirt

Origin of dirt

Words nearby dirt

Words related to dirt

How to use dirt in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dirt

Word Origin for dirt

Other Idioms and Phrases with dirt