dirt

/dɜːt/ (bre, ipa) · /dɜːrt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdərt/ (ame, mw)

dirt — noun

1. any unwanted material like dust, mud, or grease that settles on surfaces or obje

1.名詞A2
釋義

any unwanted material like dust, mud, or grease that settles on surfaces or objects and makes them unclean

例句

Andrei wiped the dirt off his shoes before entering the house.

wipe + off for removing dirt from a surface

Elena could see a layer of dirt on the kitchen floor after the party.

同義詞
  • grime

    suggests dirt that has built up over time and is harder to remove

  • filth

    stronger and more disgusting than dirt, often connected to disease or decay

反義詞

用法筆記

Often paired with verbs like 'wipe', 'remove', 'brush', and 'covered with'. This is the most common everyday meaning of the word.

常見錯誤

❌There is dirty on the floor.
✅There is dirt on the floor.
💡'dirty' is an adjective; the noun form is 'dirt'.

2. the earth or loose soil found on the ground, for example in a garden, yard, or f

2.名詞A2
釋義

the earth or loose soil found on the ground, for example in a garden, yard, or field

例句

Padma filled the flowerpot with rich, dark dirt from the garden.

Hyun knelt down and gently pushed the seeds into the soft dirt.

push + into for planting seeds in the ground

同義詞
  • soil

    more neutral and technical than dirt; preferred in gardening and science

  • earth

    broader than dirt, can include rocks and clay

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, this sense refers to the ground as a natural material, not as unwanted grime. Common in gardening and outdoor contexts.

3. waste matter produced by the body of an animal or person

3.名詞B1
釋義

waste matter produced by the body of an animal or person

例句

The puppy left dirt on the carpet, so Asher cleaned it up with a towel.

euphemistic use for animal waste

Adina told her son to wipe the dog's dirt off his boots before coming inside.

用法筆記

A euphemistic or informal way to refer to waste. More direct options include 'poop' (for children or pets) and 'excrement' (formal).

4. private or secret facts about a person that, if revealed, would harm their reput

4.名詞B2
釋義

private or secret facts about a person that, if revealed, would harm their reputation, professional life, or personal relationships

例句

Shirin discovered some dirt on the politician and passed it to the reporter.

Linh refused to spread dirt about her former classmate even after their argument.

spread dirt about [person] — informal gossip expression

同義詞
  • gossip

    lighter and less harmful than dirt; gossip can be harmless

  • scandal

    more dramatic than dirt; scandal usually involves public exposure

用法筆記

Common in journalism, politics, and personal conflict contexts. Often implies the information is harmful rather than harmless gossip. Frequently appears in idioms like 'dish the dirt' and 'dig up dirt'.

常見錯誤

❌She told me some dirts about the manager.
✅She told me some dirt about the manager.
💡'dirt' is uncountable even in this figurative sense.