Word
grime
US/ˈɡɹaɪm/
UK/ɡɹˈaɪm/
Definitions
01ingrained dirt
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. thick, black, or oily dirt that has collected on a surface over time and is hard to wash off.
n. dirt, soot, or filth that has become deeply ingrained in a surface, typically requiring significant effort to remove.
“The windows were covered in years of thick grime from the nearby factory.”
“After decades of neglect, the statue was coated in a stubborn layer of industrial grime that obscured the fine details of the masonry.”
Antonyms
02music genre
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Music British English
n. a style of fast electronic music and rapping that started in London in the early 2000s.
n. a genre of electronic dance music and hip-hop that emerged in London in the early 2000s, characterized by rapid beats and aggressive lyrics.
“He spent the afternoon listening to early grime tracks from East London.”
“The artist is credited with bringing grime into the mainstream, blending gritty urban sounds with sophisticated lyrical flows.”
03to make dirty
C2 · Proficiency Literary
v. to cover something in thick dirt or grease.
v. to cover or soil a surface with ingrained dirt or filth.
“Working in the coal mine would grime his clothes every single day.”
“The soot from the chimney began to grime the white curtains, leaving dark streaks that would not wash out.”
Usage
This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “grime” in context.
Verb
01. champion grime
“The DJ has long championed grime and helped new MCs get heard.”
verb + noun
02. grime dominates
“For a time, grime dominated the UK urban music charts.”
noun + verb
03. grime emerges
“Grime emerged from London's pirate radio scene in the early 2000s.”
noun + verb
04. grime evolves
“Grime evolves quickly as producers experiment with new sounds.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. british grime
“British grime has influenced hip-hop artists around the world.”
adj + noun
06. classic grime
“The DJ closed his set with a classic grime anthem from 2004.”
adj + noun
07. early grime
“Early grime was defined by fast, aggressive beats and rapid lyrics.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. grime artist
“The young grime artist signed a major label deal last year.”
noun + noun
09. grime beat
“He learned to rap by practising over a fast grime beat.”
noun + noun
10. grime scene
“She is one of the most respected voices on the grime scene.”
noun + noun
11. at the forefront of grime
“Stormzy was at the forefront of grime's move into the mainstream.”
12. blend grime with hip-hop
“The producer blends grime with hip-hop to create a fresh sound.”
Real-World Examples
“By 2018 I was in my third or fourth year professionally as a grime MC and producer.” “The pain and hardship of life in poverty-ridden council estates gave us grime music, which has people sweating and smiling in clubs.” Etymology
From the Proto-Germanic grīmô, meaning a mask, the word passed through Proto-West Germanic grīmō to become the Old English grīma. This original sense of a facial covering was retained until the Middle English period, when grim underwent a shift from a physical mask to the layer of dirt or soot covering the face beneath it.
The development was likely influenced by a collection of regional terms for various forms of filth and marking. These include the Middle Dutch gryme, used for a mask, and the Middle Low German greme, for dirt. Further parallels are found in the Dutch grijm and grijmsel, referring to soot and grit, as well as the Danish and Norwegian terms grime and grimete, which describe halters and soiled or stripy surfaces. The mask has remained, though it is now composed of whatever one has failed to wash off.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/grime