[dirty] adj dirt.i.er ; -est (14c) 1 a: not clean or pure "~ clothes" b: likely to befoul or defile with dirt "~ jobs" c: tedious, disagreeable, and unrecognized or thankless "had to do the ~ work" d: contaminated with infecting organisms "~ wounds" e: containing impurities "~ coal"
2. a: morally unclean or corrupt: as (1): indecent, vulgar "~ jokes" "a ~ movie" (2): dishonorable, base "~ tricks" (3): unsportsmanlike "~ players" b: acquired by disreputable or illegal means: ill-gotten "~ money" 3 a: abominable, hateful "war is a ~ business" b: highly regrettable "a ~ shame"
4: foggy, stormy "~ weather"
5. a of color: not clear and bright: dullish "~ blond" b: characterized by a husky, rasping, or raw tonal quality "~ trumpet tones"
6: conveying ill-natured resentment "gave him a ~ look" 7: having considerable fallout "~ bombs" -- dirt.i.ly adv -- dirt.i.ness n syn dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, squalid mean conspicuously unclean or impure. dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it "a dirty littered street". filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears "a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy". foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking "a foul-smelling open sewer". nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness "it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat". In practice, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable "had a nasty fall" "his answer gave her a nasty shock". squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect "squalid slums". All these terms are also applicable to moral uncleanness or baseness or obscenity. dirty then stresses meanness or despicableness "don't ask me to do your dirty work", while filthy and foul describe disgusting obscenity or loathsome behavior "filthy street language" "a foul story of lust and greed", and nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness "a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor". Distinctively, squalid implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness "engaged in a series of squalid affairs".
[2]dirty adv dirt.i.er ; -est (ca. 1934): in a dirty manner: as a: deceptively, underhandedly "fight ~" b: indecently "talk ~" [3]dirty vb dirt.ied ; dirty.ing vt (1591) 1: to make dirty
2. a: to stain with dishonor: sully b: to debase by distorting the real nature of ~ vi: to become soiled