Dictionary
1dirty
adjective \ˈdər-tē\
: not clean
: indecent and offensive
: relating to sex in an indecent or offensive way
dirt·i·erdirt·i·est
Full Definition of DIRTY
1
a : not clean or pure <dirty clothes> b : likely to befoul or defile with dirt <dirty jobs> c : contaminated with infecting organisms <dirty wounds> d : containing impurities <dirty coal>
2
a : morally unclean or corrupt: as (1) : indecent, vulgar <dirty jokes> <a dirty movie> (2) : dishonorable, base <a dirty trick> (3) : unsportsmanlike <dirty players> b : acquired by disreputable or illegal means : ill-gotten <dirty money> c : disagreeable, distasteful, or objectionable but usually necessary (as in achieving a desired result) <hired a thug to do their dirty work>
3
a : abominable, hateful <war is a dirty business> b : highly regrettable <a dirty shame> c : likely to cause disgrace or scandal <dirty little secrets>
5
a of color : not clear and bright : dullish <dirty blond> b : characterized by a husky, rasping, or raw tonal quality <dirty trumpet tones>
6
: conveying ill-natured resentment <gave him a dirty look>
— dirt·i·ly \ˈdər-tə-lē\ adverb
— dirt·i·ness \ˈdər-tē-nəs\ noun
See dirty defined for English-language learners
See dirty defined for kids
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First Known Use of DIRTY
14th century
Related to DIRTY
- Synonyms
- bedraggled, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, black, blackened, cruddy, dingy, draggled, dusty, filthy, foul, grimy, grotty [chiefly British], grubby, grungy, mucky, muddy, nasty, smudged, smutty, soiled, sordid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly
- Antonyms
- clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span), spotless, stainless, ultraclean, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied
Synonym Discussion of DIRTY
dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, squalid mean conspicuously unclean or impure. dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it <a dirty littered street>. filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears <a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy>. foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking <a foul-smelling open sewer>. nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness <it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat>. In practice, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable <had a nasty fall> <his answer gave her a nasty shock>. squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect <squalid slums>. All these terms are also applicable to moral uncleanness or baseness or obscenity. dirty then stresses meanness or despicableness <don't ask me to do your dirty work>, while filthy and foul describe disgusting obscenity or loathsome behavior <filthy street language> <a foul story of lust and greed>, and nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness <a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor>. Distinctively, squalid implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness <engaged in a series of squalid affairs>.
2dirty
adverb
: in an unfair or dishonest way
: in an indecent or offensive way
dirt·i·erdirt·i·est
Full Definition of DIRTY
See dirty defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DIRTY
circa 1931
Rhymes with DIRTY
3dirty
verb
: to make (something) dirty
dirt·ieddirty·ing
Full Definition of DIRTY
transitive verb
1
: to make dirty
2
a : to stain with dishonor : sully b : to debase by distorting the real nature of
intransitive verb
: to become soiled
See dirty defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DIRTY
1591
DIRTIEST Defined for Kids
1dirty
adjective \ˈdər-tē\
dirt·i·erdirt·i·est
Definition of DIRTY for Kids
1
: not clean <dirty clothes>
3
: not pleasant but usually necessary <a dirty job>
4
: being vulgar : not decent <dirty jokes>
5
: showing dislike or anger <a dirty look>
— dirt·i·ness noun
2dirty
adverb
Definition of DIRTY for Kids
: in an unfair or dishonest way <She plays dirty.>
3dirty
verb
dirt·ieddirty·ing
Definition of DIRTY for Kids
: to make or become unclean
Medical Dictionary
dirty
adjective \ˈdərt-ē\
dirt·i·erdirt·i·est
Medical Definition of DIRTY
: contaminated with infecting organisms <dirty wounds>
Learn More About DIRTY
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