dusting

noun

dust·​ing ˈdə-stiŋ How to pronounce dusting (audio)
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 This classic recipe needs no adornment, but a dusting of powdered sugar and a few berries can dress it up for Easter. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2024 By the time most of Kansas City was waking up on Wednesday, a dusting of snow covered the ground in some areas and the record-tying 73-degree moment less than 24 hours before was more than 60 degrees warmer than an unofficial morning low of 12 degrees recorded at Kansas City International Airport. Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2024 As the trail nears its terminus at FR 618, tree cover increases with a dusting of piñon pine joining the mix of mesquite, scrub oak and sharp-spined crucifixion thorn. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 18 Jan. 2024 Material Reusable dusting tools are commonly made of microfiber. Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2024 Corn grilled over mesquite and served under a blanket of lime-chile mayonnaise and a dusting of queso cotija and cilantro, this is probably the messiest appetizer on the menu, but totally worth it for the tart, sweet-savory flavors. Felicia Campbell, The Arizona Republic, 15 Feb. 2024 The region did enjoy a slight dusting of snow last month, enough to be fun but not cause widespread chaos. David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Feb. 2024 The whole state is expected to get light snow overnight Wednesday into Thursday, from a dusting up to 3 inches depending on location, said Aidan Kuroski, a weather service meteorologist. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2024 If a storm track shifts 20 or 30 miles, a would-have-been foot of snow can turn into a dusting, says AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter. TIME, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dusting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dusting was in 1681

Dictionary Entries Near dusting

Cite this Entry

“Dusting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusting. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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