# dirt

/ˈdɝt/ (US) · /dˈɜːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dirt
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. unclean substance

noun · CEFR A2

any substance like mud, dust, or grease that makes something look messy or unclean.

For teachers: any foul or filthy substance, such as mud, dust, or excrement, that soils a surface or object.

- He wiped the dirt off his shoes before walking into the house.
- The industrial machinery was encrusted with a thick layer of dirt and grease that required specialized solvents to remove.

### 2. soil or earth

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

the loose substance on the ground that plants grow in.

For teachers: loose earth or soil, particularly when considered as a substance rather than a specific location.

- The children were playing in the dirt with their toy trucks.
- The gardener mixed organic compost into the dry dirt to ensure the new saplings would have enough nutrients to survive the winter.

### 3. scandalous information

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

secret or unpleasant information about someone that could damage their reputation.

For teachers: scandalous or damaging information, rumors, or secrets concerning a person's private life or past actions.

- The tabloid newspaper tried to find some dirt on the famous actor.
- During the heated election campaign, both candidates hired private investigators to dig up dirt on their opponents' financial histories.

### 4. mining material

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

earth or gravel that contains valuable minerals before it is washed or processed.

For teachers: in placer mining, the earth, gravel, or mixed material before it has been washed to extract gold or other minerals.

- The miners spent all day shoveling dirt into the sluice box to find gold.
- The efficiency of the operation depended on the volume of auriferous dirt the crew could process before the seasonal rains flooded the valley.

## Examples

- The children have dirt all over their clothes.
- After a long day working in the garden, he had to scrub the dirt from under his fingernails.
- The excavation team spent weeks sifting through layers of packed dirt and gravel before they finally uncovered the foundations of the ancient settlement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.