Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Dust?

\Dust\, n. [AS. dust; cf. LG. dust, D. duist meal dust, OD. doest, donst, and G. dunst vapor, OHG. tunist, dunist, a blowing, wind, Icel. dust dust, Dan. dyst mill dust; perh. akin to L. fumus smoke, E. fume. ?.] 1. Fine, dry particles of earth or other matter, so comminuted that they may be raised and wafted by the wind; that which is crumbled too minute portions; fine powder; as, clouds of dust; bone dust. Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. --Gen. iii. 19. Stop! -- for thy tread is on an empire's dust. --Byron. 2. A single particle of earth or other matter. [R.] ``To touch a dust of England's ground.'' --Shak. 3. The earth, as the resting place of the dead. For now shall sleep in the dust. --Job vii. 21. 4. The earthy remains of bodies once alive; the remains of the human body. And you may carve a shrine about my dust. --Tennyson. 5. Figuratively, a worthless thing. And by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust. --Shak. 6. Figuratively, a low or mean condition. [God] raiseth up the poor out of the dust. --1 Sam. ii. 8. 7. Gold dust; hence: (Slang) Coined money; cash. {Down with the dust}, deposit the cash; pay down the money. [Slang] ``My lord, quoth the king, presently deposit your hundred pounds in gold, or else no going hence all the days of your life. . . . The Abbot down with his dust, and glad he escaped so, returned to Reading.'' --Fuller. {Dust brand} (Bot.), a fungous plant ({Ustilago Carbo}); -- called also {smut}. {Gold dust}, fine particles of gold, such as are obtained in placer mining; -- often used as money, being transferred by weight. {In dust and ashes}. See under {Ashes}. {To bite the dust}. See under {Bite}, v. t. {To} {raise, or kick up, dust}, to make a commotion. [Colloq.] {To throw dust in one's eyes}, to mislead; to deceive. [Colloq.]
\Dust\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dusted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Dusting}.] 1. To free from dust; to brush, wipe, or sweep away dust from; as, to dust a table or a floor. 2. To sprinkle with dust. 3. To reduce to a fine powder; to levigate. --Sprat. {To dyst one's jacket}, to give one a flogging. [Slang.]