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dirty

adj. · v.
US //ˈdɝti// UK //dˈɜːti// dirty
  1. 1 unclean (adj.)
    A1 Beginner

    covered with dirt, mud, or something else that is not clean.

    soiled or stained with physical impurities such as grime, dust, or mud.

    Example

    Don't sit on the sofa in those dirty clothes after playing outside.

    Example

    The mechanic's hands were permanently stained with dirty oil, a testament to decades spent repairing heavy machinery in the workshop.
  2. 2 unfair or dishonest (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    unfair, dishonest, or breaking the rules.

    violating accepted standards of fairness, ethics, or legality.

    Example

    The politician was accused of using dirty tricks to win the election.

    Example

    The investigation revealed a series of dirty financial deals that had been hidden from the board of directors for years.
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  1. 3 obscene or indecent (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    related to sex in a way that some people find offensive or rude.

    morally offensive, indecent, or lewd, particularly in a sexual context.

    Example

    He was embarrassed when his friend told a dirty joke at the dinner table.

    Example

    The censors demanded that several dirty passages be removed from the manuscript before it could be approved for general publication.
  2. 4 with olive juice (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Cooking

    used to describe a cocktail, like a martini, that has olive juice in it.

    referring to a cocktail, typically a martini, prepared with the addition of olive brine or juice.

    Example

    She ordered a dirty martini with extra olives at the hotel bar.

    Example

    The bartender noted that a truly dirty martini requires high-quality brine to balance the botanical notes of the gin.

  3. 5 unhealthy and indulgent (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Cooking

    used to describe food that is very high in fat or calories but tastes great.

    referring to food that is highly indulgent, often featuring excessive toppings or high caloric density.

    Example

    We went out for dirty fries covered in cheese and bacon after the game.

    Example

    The menu specialized in dirty burgers, attracting a late-night crowd looking for maximalist comfort food.
  4. 6 containing noise (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Music

    having unwanted background noise or distortion in a recording.

    characterised by unwanted signal noise, distortion, or lack of acoustic clarity.

    Example

    The producer wanted a dirty guitar sound for the rock track.

    Example

    The engineer spent hours trying to clean up the dirty audio feed from the remote location before the broadcast went live.
  5. 7 to make unclean (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to make something become not clean.

    to soil or stain something; to cause a surface to become physically unclean.

    Example

    Try not to dirty your new shoes while walking through the park.

    Example

    The children managed to dirty the white carpet within minutes of arriving home from their rainy football practice.
Origin

From Middle English dirti, alteration of earlier dritti, equivalent to dirt + -y. Cognate with Middle Low German drēterich (“dirty”). See also drite.

Idioms14 entries

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