Dust
/dʌst/
Dust is fine particulate matter and also the act of removing such particles from surfaces, used in everyday language for both contexts.
Examples
- He spent the afternoon dusting the furniture.
- The crew dusted the stage after the performance.
- I will dust the blinds later today.
- He dusted off his jacket before leaving.
- They are dusting the old books for preservation.
Meanings
The word entered English from Old English, retaining the sense of fine, dry particles. Over centuries it broadened to include any small particulate matter, both natural and artificial.
Examples
- Dust gathers on the bookshelf every week.
- The attic was dusty after the renovation.
- She dusted the antique vase carefully.
- He spent the afternoon dusting the furniture.
- A light dust settled on the car’s windshield.
The verb form developed from the act of applying dust to a surface, later reversing to mean the removal of that dust, a common semantic shift in English.
Examples
- She dusts the shelves every Saturday.
- He dusted off his jacket before leaving.
- They are dusting the old books for preservation.
- The crew dusted the stage after the performance.
- I will dust the blinds later today.