Added 9 October 2026
dust
/dʌst/ noun
In Latin: pulvis, pollen Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dust at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Fine particles. Fine, dry particles of matter found in the air and covering the surface of objects, typically consisting of soil lifted up by the wind, pollen, hair, fiber debris, dead skin cells, etc. Any substance reduced to fine particles; powder. Submicron particles in outer space, largely silicates and carbon compounds, that contribute greatly to extinction at visible wavelengths. Disintegration of a solid, like silica. Flour. A single fine, dry particle of earth or other material; grain of dust.
- Fine, dry particles of matter found in the air and covering the surface of objects, typically consisting of soil lifted up by the wind, pollen, hair, fiber debris, dead skin cells, etc.
- Any substance reduced to fine particles; powder.
verb
Origin
From Middle English dust, doust, from Old English dūst (“dust, dried earth reduced to powder; other dry material reduced to powder”), from the fusion of Proto-Germanic *dustą (“dust”) and *dunstą (“mist, dust, evaporation”), both from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“to smoke, raise dust”). Cognate with Scots dust, dist (“dust”), Dutch duist (“pollen, dust”) and dons (“down, fuzz”), German Dust (“dust”) and Dunst (“haze”), Swedish dust (“dust”), Icelandic dust (“dust”), Latin fūmus (“smoke, steam”). Also related to Swedish dun (“down, fluff”), Icelandic dúnn (“down, fluff”). See down.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)