n.
Pronunciation: ' d ə st
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English d ū st; akin to Old High German tunst storm, and probably to Latin fumus smoke ― more at FUME
Date: before 12th century
1 : fine particles of matter (as of earth)
2 : the particles into which something disintegrates
3 a : something worthless b : a state of humiliation
4 a : the earth especially as a place of burial b : the surface of the ground
5 a : a cloud of dust b : CONFUSION , DISTURBANCE
6 archaic : a single particle (as of earth)
7 British : refuse ready for collection
– dust · less \ -l ə s \ adjective
– dust · like \ - ˌ l ī k \ adjective