adj., -i·er, -i·est.
- Soiled, as with dirt; unclean.
- Spreading dirt; polluting: The air near the foundry was always dirty.
- Apt to soil with dirt or grime: a dirty job at the garage.
- Contaminated with bacteria or other infectious microorganisms.
- Squalid or filthy; run-down: dirty slums.
- Obscene or indecent: dirty movies; a dirty joke.
- Malicious or scandalous: a dirty lie.
- Unethical or corrupt; sordid: dirty politics.
- Not sportsmanlike: dirty players; a dirty fighter.
- Acquired by illicit or improper means: dirty money.
- Slang. Possessing or using illegal drugs.
- Unpleasant or distasteful; thankless: Laying off workers is the dirty part of this job.
- Extremely unfortunate or regrettable: a dirty shame.
- Expressing disapproval or hostility: gave us a dirty look.
- Not bright and clear in color; somewhat dull or drab. Often used in combination: dirty-blonde hair; dirty-green walls.
- Producing a very great amount of long-lived radioactive fallout. Used of nuclear weapons.
- Stormy; rough: dirty weather.
v., -ied, -y·ing, -ies. v.tr.
- To make soiled.
- To stain or tarnish with dishonor.
To become soiled.
dirtily dirt'i·ly adv.
dirtiness dirt'i·ness n.
SYNONYMS dirty, filthy, foul, squalid, grimy. These adjectives apply to what is unclean, impure, or unkempt. Dirty is the most general: dirty clothes; dirty sidewalks. Something that is filthy is disgustingly dirty: filthy rags. Foul suggests gross offensiveness, particularly to the sense of smell: a foul stench; a foul pond. Squalid suggests dirtiness, wretchedness, and sordidness: lived in a squalid apartment. Grimy describes something ingrained or smudged with dirt or soot: grimy hands.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
