grime

[ grahym ]

noun

1. dirt, soot, or other filthy matter, especially adhering to or embedded in a surface.
2. a style of music influenced by rap, ragga, etc., and characterized by lyrics and imagery that reference the dark side of urban life.

verb (used with object)

, grimed, grim·ing.

1. to cover with dirt; make very dirty; soil.

grime

/ ɡraɪm /

noun

1. dirt, soot, or filth, esp when thickly accumulated or ingrained
2. a genre of music originating in the East End of London and combining elements of garage, hip-hop, rap, and jungle

verb

1. tr to make dirty or coat with filth

Derived Forms

• ˈgriminess, noun
• ˈgrimy, adjective

Other Words From

• un·grimed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grime¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English grim; apparently special use of Old English grīma “mask,” to denote layer of dust; compare dialectal Dutch grijm

Word History and Origins

Origin of grime¹

C15: from Middle Dutch grime; compare Flemish grijm, Old English grīma mask

Example Sentences

It will start to get yellow and less translucent as you wear it and it picks up grime and dirt.

From Popular-Science

Eventually a bit of grime might develop around the mouth of the jar, but you can simply wipe it off with a clean, wet towel.

From Eater

Beyond the regular sweat and grime of daily life, pollution also plays a big role when it comes to wrinkles.

From Popular-Science

With an IP54 rating, the charging case also protects against rain and grime, but if you drop it in the dirt you’ll want to wipe it down rather than run the faucet over it.

From Popular-Science

Use a small brush, like an old toothbrush, to dislodge as much grime as you can, then vacuum it all up.

From Popular-Science

Cars have national attributes and GM wants their luxury line to grab the glitz of New York instead of the grime of Detroit.

From The Daily Beast

Restorers completed a 12-year project in 1998 that cleaned decades of grime from the ceiling.

From The Daily Beast

That grime came from the cigarette smoke of millions of commuters.

From The Daily Beast

“I am looking to get into the grime rap UK scene,” he told The Sun.

From The Daily Beast

Faith may bolster the ascetic, but boredom wears him down—grime and solitude breed apathy.

From The Daily Beast

Inly wondering why any one should wish to conceal such a trifle, I drew it forth, rubbing the grime and dust from it as I did so.

From Project Gutenberg

The students brought candles by which to study until it became light, and the roof was soon black with the grime and smoke.

From Project Gutenberg

They presented an uncouth spectacle bedraggled as they were with grime and dirty water.

From Project Gutenberg

A cinder stung her face, and when she lifted her hand to the spot, she saw that her glove was black with grime.

From Project Gutenberg

But he was covered with grime and dust and his clothing was torn and streaked with blood.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dust
• filth
• muck
• soot