Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - dust

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English dust; akin to Old High German tunst storm, and probably to Latin fumus smoke — more at fume  Date: before 12th century  1. fine particles of matter (as of earth)  2. the particles into which something disintegrates  3.  a. something worthless  b. a state of humiliation  4.  a. the earth especially as a place of burial  b. the surface of the ground  5.  a. a cloud of ~  b. confusion, disturbance  6. archaic a single particle (as of earth)  7. British refuse ready for collection  • ~less adjective  • ~like adjective  II. verb  Date: 1530  transitive verb  1. archaic to make ~y  2. to make free of ~ ~ the living room  3.  a. to sprinkle with fine particles a cake ~ed with sugar  b. to sprinkle in the form of ~  4. to throw a fastball close to (a batter) ; brush back — often used with off  5. to defeat badly (as in a race)  intransitive verb  1. of a bird to work ~ into the feathers  2. to remove ~  3. to give off ~