dirt — earth or soil, especially when loose
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: earth or soil, especially when loose
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɜːrt/
Example Sentences
- My mom always said 'A little dirt never hurt anyone' when I came home muddy.
- The gossip magazine was always looking for dirt on celebrities.
- I bought this car dirt cheap at a garage sale.
dirt
NOUN[/dɜːrt/]
earth or soil, especially when loose
The kids tracked dirt all over the kitchen floor after playing outside.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Middle English 'drit', which is related to Old Norse 'drit' meaning excrement or feces. Originally referring to filth or waste matter, the term gradually broadened in meaning to encompass soil and earth.
Breakdown
Old Norse 'drit' (excrement) > Middle English 'drit' > Modern English 'dirt'. The semantic shift reflects a transition from literal waste material to soil and unclean matter in general.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom always said 'A little dirt never hurt anyone' when I came home muddy.”
“The gossip magazine was always looking for dirt on celebrities.”
“I bought this car dirt cheap at a garage sale.”
“The farmer's hands were covered in dirt after planting seeds all morning.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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