# dung

/ˈdəŋ/ (US) · /dˈʌŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dung
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. animal waste

noun · CEFR B2

waste from animals, especially large ones like cows or elephants.

For teachers: the excrement of animals, typically large herbivores, often used as manure for soil enrichment.

- The farmer collected the cow dung to use as fertilizer for his crops.
- Biologists studied the elephant dung to determine the health and diet of the herd moving through the reserve.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the substance in general.

### 2. to fertilize

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to put animal waste on land to help plants grow better.

For teachers: to apply dung to land as a fertilizer.

- The gardener decided to dung the vegetable patch before the spring planting.
- Traditional agricultural practices required the peasants to dung the fields heavily after the autumn harvest to prepare for the next cycle.

Usage: Transitive verb taking the land or soil as its direct object.

### 3. to defecate

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a word for when an animal passes waste from its body.

For teachers: to void excrement; used specifically in reference to animals.

- The horses were dunging in the field near the fence.
- The veterinarian noted that the cattle were dunging more frequently than usual, suggesting a change in their dietary fiber intake.

Usage: Intransitive verb.

## Examples

- The farmer collected the dung to use as fertilizer.
- Walking through the pasture, we had to be careful not to step in any fresh cow dung.
- In many traditional agricultural systems, dried dung serves as a vital source of fuel for cooking and heating when wood is scarce.

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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.