dusty

IPA/ˈdʌsti/
KK[dˈʌsti]IPA/ˈdʌsti/

dusty — 形容詞

  • dustypositive
  • dustiercomparative
  • dustiestsuperlative

1. having a layer of fine, dry powder sitting on the surface, so that it needs clea

1.形容詞A2
釋義

滿是灰塵

表面佈滿灰塵的

having a layer of fine, dry powder sitting on the surface, so that it needs cleaning

例句

Tyler wiped the dusty shelf with a wet cloth before putting the books back.

Tyler 用濕抹布擦了佈滿灰塵的架子，然後把書放回去。

collocation: dusty shelf

Adina sneezed when she opened the dusty box of old Christmas decorations.

Adina 打開那裝滿灰塵的舊聖誕飾品盒子時，打了個噴嚏。

so + adjective + that-clause (implied result)

常見搭配
  • dusty shelf
  • dusty road
  • dusty attic
  • dusty window
  • get dusty
  • leave something to get dusty
同義詞
  • sandy

    refers specifically to loose grains of sand, not household dust

  • sooty

    describes black powder from smoke or fire

  • powdery

    emphasises the fine, loose texture rather than the need for cleaning

反義詞
  • clean

    free of any dust or dirt

  • polished

    shiny after cleaning, the opposite of a dusty surface

用法筆記

Frequently used with nouns for household objects (shelf, table, book, window, box) and indoor spaces (attic, basement, room).

常見錯誤

The counter was dusty' (when you mean dirty with food stains).
The counter was dusty' (use only if fine dry powder is visible).
Dusty is specific to dry particle dust, not general dirt or grease.

2. having a dull, pale shade that reminds people of dust — used before a colour wor

2.形容詞B1
釋義

灰濛的

帶有灰濛色調的顏色

having a dull, pale shade that reminds people of dust — used before a colour word to describe a soft or muted tone

例句

Paloma chose a dusty blue paint for the kitchen walls.

Paloma 為廚房牆壁選了一種灰藍色的油漆。

colour: dusty blue

The hills looked dusty green under the afternoon sun.

午後的陽光下，那些山丘呈現灰濛濛的綠色。

常見搭配
  • dusty pink
  • dusty blue
  • dusty green
  • dusty grey
  • dusty purple
同義詞
  • muted

    broader term for any soft, toned-down colour

  • dull

    more negative; lacks brightness entirely rather than being softly muted

  • faded

    suggests the colour was brighter before, not naturally soft

反義詞
  • bright

    vivid and strong, opposite of a muted dusty shade

  • vibrant

    full of colour and energy

用法筆記

Almost always appears before another colour word (pink, blue, green, grey, purple). Do not use alone to describe the colour of an object — a 'dusty dress' would be read as a dress covered in dust (sense 1).

常見錯誤

She bought a dusty dress' (meaning a greyish dress — ambiguous).
She bought a dusty grey dress.
Always pair with a colour word to avoid confusion with sense 1.

3. old-fashioned and not interesting or exciting, because something has been around

3.形容詞B2
釋義

陳舊乏味

過時且不吸引人的

old-fashioned and not interesting or exciting, because something has been around for too long without change

例句

The professor's dusty old lectures put half the class to sleep.

那位教授陳舊乏味的講座讓班上將近一半的學生睡著了。

pattern: dusty old + noun

Cyrus wanted to update the company's dusty reputation with fresh ideas.

Cyrus 想用新的點子來改變公司陳舊的形象。

常見搭配
  • dusty old
  • dusty and outdated
  • dusty image
  • dusty reputation
  • dusty lecture
同義詞
  • stale

    suggests something that was once fresh but has gone flat, like old bread or old jokes

  • musty

    has a similar physical feel (old smell) but less common in figurative use

  • dated

    neutral — simply old-fashioned without the negative flavour of boredom

反義詞
  • fresh

    new and exciting, the opposite of stale or dusty

  • cutting-edge

    at the forefront of modern thinking

用法筆記

Often carries a mildly negative or dismissive tone. Commonly paired with 'old' (dusty old ideas, dusty old building). Applies to ideas, images, reputations, and institutions — not just physical objects.

常見錯誤

The book is dusty' (could mean physically covered in dust — sense 1).
The book is dusty and outdated.
Use additional context words (outdated, old-fashioned, stale) to signal the figurative meaning.

同根字

  • dust
    名詞A2
  • dust
    動詞B1
  • duster
    名詞B2
  • dustless
    形容詞C1
  • dustily
    副詞C1

常見搭配

名詞搭配

副詞搭配

  • extremely dusty
  • very dusty
  • slightly dusty
  • still dusty
  • a bit dusty

常用片語

介系詞搭配

  • dusty with