dusting

noun

dust·​ing ˈdə-stiŋ 

plural dustings

1

: the act of making something clean by brushing or wiping away dirt and dust from the surface

The furniture needs a good dusting.

2

a

: a small amount of something that falls or is sprinkled over a surface

During summer, the cracked floor looks prehistoric under the desert sun; during winter, it's intermittently covered by sheets of ice and dustings of snow.

—Joseph Stromberg

Add pearl onions, mushrooms, and a dusting of marjoram.

—Hali Ramdene

b

: a faint or slight quality or amount

… sporting a dusting of stubble, DiSpirito runs Union Pacific, a paragon of gilded, inventive Manhattan dining.

—James Poniewozik

Examples of dusting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Plus, it’s designed with a slim nozzle that rotates up to 180 degrees and a flip-up brush for dusting and upholstery. —Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024

From tidying tables, fluffing pillows, and vacuuming, to weekly dusting, furniture maintenance, and more, this is one space that is deserving of care. —Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2024

Ask for a light dusting of chrome powder to elevate the look. —Mica Ricketts, refinery29.com, 28 May 2024

Valley locations east of Tucson were projected to see anything from light dustings to an inch of snow late Sunday afternoon into the evening, according to the weather service. —Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 7 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1