grime
Grime (noun) means a layer of dirt, soot, or grease that has built up and is hard to remove. Example: “Years of grime coated the old factory windows.”
How to use grime
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGround-in dirt and grease, or the British music genre born out of London's underground scene.
Word forms
grimed past tense, Grimes plural, grimes singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Years of _____ coated the old factory windows.
Etymology
From Middle English grim, meaning soot or dirt on the face, tracing back to an Old English word for "mask" — dirt-covered skin was once poetically compared to wearing a mask.
Related words
Rhymes for grime
See all rhymes for grime →Frequently asked questions
What does “grime” mean?
The word “grime” means a layer of dirt, soot, or grease that has built up and is hard to remove. In plain terms, ground-in dirt and grease, or the British music genre born out of London's underground scene.
How do you pronounce “grime”?
“Grime” is pronounced grym (/ɡɹaɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “grime” in a sentence?
Here is “grime” used in a sentence: “Years of grime coated the old factory windows.”
What part of speech is “grime”?
“Grime” is a noun.
Where does the word “grime” come from?
The word “grime” comes from Old English. From Middle English grim, meaning soot or dirt on the face, tracing back to an Old English word for "mask" — dirt-covered skin was once poetically compared to wearing a mask.
How many meanings does “grime” have?
“Grime” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a layer of dirt, soot, or grease that has built up and is hard to remove.