I. ˈdər-tē adjective
( dirt·i·er ; -est )
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : not clean or pure
dirty clothes
b. : likely to befoul or defile with dirt
dirty jobs
c. : contaminated with infecting organisms
dirty wounds
d. : containing impurities
dirty coal
2.
a. : morally unclean or corrupt: as
(1) : indecent , vulgar
dirty jokes
a dirty movie
(2) : dishonorable , base
a dirty trick
(3) : unsportsmanlike
dirty players
b. : acquired by disreputable or illegal means : ill-gotten
dirty money
c. : disagreeable, distasteful, or objectionable but usually necessary (as in achieving a desired result)
hired a thug to do their dirty work
3.
a. : abominable , hateful
war is a dirty business
b. : highly regrettable
a dirty shame
c. : likely to cause disgrace or scandal
dirty little secrets
4. : foggy , stormy
dirty weather
5.
a. of color : not clear and bright : dullish
dirty blond
b. : characterized by a husky, rasping, or raw tonal quality
dirty trumpet tones
6. : conveying ill-natured resentment
gave him a dirty look
7. : having considerable fallout
dirty bombs
• dirt·i·ly ˈdər-tə-lē adverb
• dirt·i·ness ˈdər-tē-nəs noun
Synonyms:
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
II. adverb
( dirt·i·er ; -est )
Date: circa 1931
: in a dirty manner: as
a. : deceptively , underhandedly
fight dirty
b. : indecently
talk dirty
III. verb
( dirt·ied ; dirty·ing )
Date: 1591
transitive verb
1. : to make dirty
2.
a. : to stain with dishonor : sully
b. : to debase by distorting the real nature of
intransitive verb
: to become soiled