dusting

Pluraldustings

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of dust. Use this form for the action happening now or as the name of the action.

   She is dusting the shelves before the guests arrive.

   He spent the whole afternoon dusting the attic.

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The job of wiping dust off furniture and other surfaces at home.

   Like brushing crumbs off a table, but for dust on furniture.

   Dusting is the chore she dislikes most around the house.

   He divided the cleaning between vacuuming and dusting.

   Similarcleaning, wipe

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   A thin layer of powder or fine bits spread lightly over something.

   Like a light sprinkle of powdered sugar on top of a cake.

   A dusting of pollen yellowed the parked cars overnight.

   She finished the dessert with a dusting of cocoa.

   Similarsprinkling, coating, film, layer, trace

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   A small amount of snow that falls and barely covers the ground.

   Like a sprinkle of powdered sugar, but made of snow.

   A dusting of snow covered the lawn by morning.

   Forecasters predicted only a dusting before the skies cleared.

   Similarsprinkling, coating

5. 5
   nouncolloquialcountable

   A beating that one person gives to another.

   The bullies gave him a real dusting behind the school.

   He came home with a black eye after a dusting from the gang.

   Similarbeating, thrashing, hiding, pasting, going-over

6. 6
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A bird's habit of working fine dirt through its feathers to stay clean.

   Like a dog rolling in the grass to get comfortable, but with dry dirt.

   A good dusting in dry soil keeps the hen's feathers clean and pest-free.

   Dusting is common among ground birds like quail and pheasants.

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