# Grimes

/ˈɡɹaɪmz/ (US) · /ɡɹˈaɪmz/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grimes
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

dirt that is stuck to a surface, like a floor or a window. It is usually thick and hard to clean off.

For teachers: dirt, soot, or filth that has become deeply ingrained in or attached to a surface. Often used to describe a layer of neglect or long-term accumulation.

## Examples

- The window was covered in thick grimes.
- After years of neglect, the kitchen walls were coated in a layer of sticky grimes and grease.
- Restoration experts spent weeks carefully removing the industrial grimes that had obscured the cathedral's intricate stonework for over a century.

---

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.