Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

dirty

1 adjective
     
dirty
dirt‧y1 S2 W3 comparative dirtier, superlative dirtiest
1

not clean

covered in or marked by an unwanted substance [≠ clean]:
a stack of dirty dishes in the sink
How did you get so dirty?
dirty clothes/washing/laundry
She circled the bedroom, picking up dirty clothes.
2

sex

relating to sex, in a way that is considered immoral or unpleasant:
kids telling dirty jokes
a dirty magazine
She looked at me as if I had said a dirty word.
have a dirty mind British English (=think about sex a lot)
dirty weekend British English (=a weekend when a man and woman who are not married to each other go away to have sex)
3

bad/immoral

used to emphasize that you think someone or something is bad, dishonest, or immoral:
You're a dirty liar!
a dirty fighter
you and your dirty little deals
do the dirty on somebody British English (=treat someone in a way that is unfair or dishonest)
What a dirty trick!
4

something is a dirty word

if something is a dirty word, people believe it is a bad thing even if they do not know or think much about it [= swear word]:
'Liberal' has somehow become a dirty word in America.
5

give somebody a dirty look

to look at someone in a very disapproving way:
Susan gave her brother a dirty look.
6

dirty trick

a dishonest or unfair action, especially done by a government, company, or organization:
political dirty tricks
7

wash your dirty linen/laundry

also air your dirty laundry American English to discuss something embarrassing or bad about yourself where everyone can see, know, or hear:
The divorce has meant airing their dirty laundry in court.
8

do somebody's dirty work

to do an unpleasant or dishonest action for someone, so that they do not have to do it themselves:
I'm not talking to him; you do your own dirty work!
9

it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it

used to say that something is unpleasant to do, but that it is necessary - often used humorously
10

drugs

MDD American English informal containing or possessing illegal drugs
11

dirty bomb

a bomb that contains a radioactive substance which makes the bomb more dangerous than bombs containing only traditional explosives
12

sport

a dirty sports event is one in which people competing in the event have illegally used drugs to improve their performance:
Many people think that the race has been a dirty event for years.
—dirtily adverb
WORD FOCUS: dirty WORD FOCUS: dirty
similar words: filthy, grubby, grimy, mucky British English, muddy, greasy, dusty, soiled, contaminated, polluted
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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