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Dust vs Fog - What's the difference?

dust | fog |

In uncountable terms the difference between dust and fog

is that dust is fine, dry particles of matter found in the air and covering the surface of objects, typically consisting of soil lifted up by the wind, pollen, hair, etc while fog is a mist or film clouding a surface.

In transitive terms the difference between dust and fog

is that dust is to spray or cover something with fine powder or liquid while fog is to pasture cattle on the fog, or aftergrass, of; to eat off the fog from.

In intransitive terms the difference between dust and fog

is that dust is of a bird, to cover itself in sand or dry, dusty earth while fog is to become obscured in condensation or water.

dust

English

Noun

  • (uncountable) Fine, dry particles of matter found in the air and covering the surface of objects, typically consisting of soil lifted up by the wind, pollen, hair, etc.
  • (countable) The act of cleaning by dusting.
  • * 2010 , Joan Busfield, Michael Paddon, Thinking About Children: Sociology and Fertility in Post-War England (page 150)
  • once they start school, I mean you can do a room out one day, the next day it only needs a dust , doesn't it?
  • (obsolete) A single particle of earth or other material.
  • * Shakespeare
  • to touch a dust of England's ground
  • The earth, as the resting place of the dead.
  • * Bible, Job vii. 21
  • I shall sleep in the dust .
  • The earthy remains of bodies once alive; the remains of the human body.
  • * Tennyson
  • And you may carve a shrine about my dust .
  • (figurative) Something worthless.
  • * Shakespeare
  • And by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust .
  • (figurative) A low or mean condition.
  • * Bible, 1 Sam. ii. 8
  • [God] raiseth up the poor out of the dust .
  • (slang, dated) cash; money (in reference to gold dust).
  • (mathematics) A totally disconnected set of points with a fractal structure.
  • Derived terms

    * angel dust * bite the dust * catch dust * dust ball * dustbin, dust bin * dust devil * dustbowl, dust bowl * dust bunny * dust filter * dustman * dust mask * dustpan * duststorm * dust trap * dust-up * dusty * fairy dust * goofer dust * pixie dust * smart dust, smartdust * stardust * turn to dust

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To remove dust from.
  • * , chapter=12
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=There were many wooden chairs for the bulk of his visitors, and two wicker armchairs with red cloth cushions for superior people. From the packing-cases had emerged some Indian clubs, […], and all these articles […] made a scattered and untidy decoration that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and greatly cherished.}}
  • To remove dust; to clean by removing dust.
  • Of a bird, to cover itself in sand or dry, dusty earth.
  • To spray or cover something with fine powder or liquid.
  • To leave; to rush off.
  • * 1939 , (Raymond Chandler), (The Big Sleep) , Penguin 2011, p. 75:
  • He added in a casual tone: ‘The girl can dust . I'd like to talk to you a little, soldier.’
  • To reduce to a fine powder; to levigate.
  • (Sprat)

    Derived terms

    * dust off * duster

    See also

    * vacuum cleaner

    fog

    English

    (wikipedia fog)

    Etymology 1

    Origin uncertain; perhaps a or perhaps related to the Dutch vocht and German feucht (moisture)

    Noun

  • (label) A thick cloud that forms near the ground; the obscurity of such a cloud.
  • *
  • *:Thus the red damask curtains which now shut out the fog -laden, drizzling atmosphere of the Marylebone Road, had cost a mere song, and yet they might have been warranted to last another thirty years. A great bargain also had been the excellent Axminster carpet which covered the floor;.
  • (label) A mist or film clouding a surface.
  • A state of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion.
  • :
  • *, chapter=4
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=I was on my way to the door, but all at once, through the fog in my head, I began to sight one reef that I hadn't paid any attention to afore.}}
  • (label) A silver deposit or other blur on a negative or developed photographic image.
  • Usage notes
    * To count sense thick cloud , bank of fog is usually used. * To count sense clouding a surface , foggy patch is usually used.
    Synonyms
    * (cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision) mist, haze * (mist or film clouding a surface) steam * (state of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion) daze, haze
    Derived terms
    * fog bank * fogbell * fogbound * foggy * foghorn * fog lamp * fog layer * fog light * fog of war * fog signal * in a fog * fog drip

    Verb

    (fogg)
  • To become covered with or as if with fog.
  • To become obscured in condensation or water.
  • The mirror fogged every time he showered.
  • (photography) To become dim or obscure.
  • To cover with or as if with fog.
  • * 1968 , Eighth Annual Report , Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, p 7:
  • Fogging' for adult mosquito control began on June 4th in residential areas. Until September 25th, the Metro area was ' fogged eleven times, using nine truck-mounted foggers, eight hand swing foggers, and two boats.
  • To obscure in condensation or water.
  • *
  • To make confusing or obscure.
  • (photography) To make dim or obscure.
  • To practice in a small or mean way; to pettifog.
  • * Dryden
  • Where wouldst thou fog to get a fee?
    Synonyms
    * (to become obscured in condensation or water) become cloudy, become steamy * (to make confusing or obscure) blur, cloud, obscure

    Etymology 2

    Origin uncertain; compare Norwegian fogg .

    Noun

    (-)
  • A new growth of grass appearing on a field that has been mowed or grazed.
  • (UK, dialect) Tall and decaying grass left standing after the cutting or grazing season; foggage.
  • (Halliwell)
  • (Scotland) Moss.
  • Derived terms
    * fogey * fogram * fogrum * fogy

    Verb

    (fogg)
  • To pasture cattle on the fog, or aftergrass, of; to eat off the fog from.
  • References

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