Dust vs Grime - What's the difference?

As nouns the difference between dust and grime

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 grime is dirt, grease, soot, etc. that is ingrained and difficult to remove.

As verbs the difference between dust and grime

is that dust is to remove dust from while grime is to begrime; to cake with dirt.

As a proper noun Grime is

{{surname|A=An|English}}, probably derived from Old Norse grimr or grimmr

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
Anagrams
* English contranyms 1000 English basic words ----
grime
English
(wikipedia grime)
Noun
(-)
Dirt, grease, soot, etc. that is ingrained and difficult to remove.

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
, chapter=14 citation , passage=Nanny Broome was looking up at the outer wall. Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime .}}

(music) A genre of urban music that emerged in London, England, in the early 2000s, primarily a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop.

Related terms
* grimy (pos a)
Verb
(grim)
To begrime; to cake with dirt

* {{quote-book, year=1862, author=Edwin Waugh, title=Home-Life of the Lancashire Factory Folk during the Cotton Famine, chapter=, edition= citation
, passage=All grimed with coaldust, they swing along the street with their dinner baskets and cans in their hands, chattering merrily.}}
* {{quote-book, year=1920, author=Harold Bindloss, title=Lister's Great Adventure, chapter=, edition= citation
, passage=Fog from the river rolled up the street and the windows were grimed by soot, but Cartwright had not turned on the electric light.}}
* {{quote-book, year=1918, author=Harold Bindloss, title=The Buccaneer Farmer, chapter=, edition= citation
, passage=His skin was grimed with dust, for he had ridden hard in scorching heat, and was anxious and impatient to get on.}} ----