/derrt/ , n.
1. any foul or filthy substance, as mud, grime, dust, or excrement.
2. earth or soil, esp. when loose.
3. something or someone vile, mean, or worthless: After that last outburst of hers I thought she was dirt.
4. moral filth; vileness; corruption.
5. obscene or lewd language: to talk dirt.
6. Informal. gossip, esp. of a malicious, lurid, or scandalous nature: Tell me all the latest dirt.
7. private or personal information which if made public would create a scandal or ruin the reputation of a person, company, etc.
8. Mining.
a. crude, broken ore or waste.
b. (in placer mining) the material from which gold is separated by washing.
9. do (someone) dirt . See dirty (def. 15).
10. eat dirt , Informal. to accept blame, guilt, criticism, or insults without complaint; humble or abase oneself: The prosecutor seemed determined to make the defendant eat dirt.
[ 1250-1300; ME dirt, drit; c. ON drit excrement; cf. OE dritan ]
Syn. 6. scandal, slander, rumor, scuttlebutt.