dross


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dross

 (drŏs, drôs)
n.
1. Waste or impure matter: discarded the dross after recycling the wood pulp.
2. The scum that forms on the surface of molten metal as a result of oxidation.
3. Worthless, commonplace, or trivial matter: "He was wide-awake and his mind worked clearly, purged of all dross" (Vladimir Nabokov).

[Middle English dros, from Old English drōs, dregs.]

dross′y adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dross

(drɒs)
n
1. (Metallurgy) the scum formed, usually by oxidation, on the surfaces of molten metals
2. worthless matter; waste
[Old English drōs dregs; related to Old High German truosana]
ˈdrossy adj
ˈdrossiness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dross

(drɔs, drɒs)

n.
1. waste matter; refuse.
2. a waste product taken off molten metal during smelting, essentially metallic in character.
[before 1050; Old English drōs; c. Middle Dutch droes dregs]
dross′y, adj. -i•er, -i•est.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.dross - worthless or dangerous material that should be removed; "there were impurities in the water"
waste, waste material, waste matter, waste product - any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted; "they collect the waste once a week"; "much of the waste material is carried off in the sewers"
2.dross - the scum formed by oxidation at the surface of molten metalsdross - the scum formed by oxidation at the surface of molten metals
scum - a film of impurities or vegetation that can form on the surface of a liquid
basic slag - slag produced in making steel; low in silica but having large amounts of calcium phosphate; useful as fertilizer
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

dross

noun rubbish, remains, refuse, lees, waste, debris, crust, impurity, scum, dregs, scoria, recrement gold nuggets from dross
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations

dross

[drɒs] N (fig) → escoria f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

dross

[ˈdrɒs] n (= worthless stuff) → déchets mpl
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

dross

n no pl (Metal) → Schlacke f; (fig)Schund m; money is but drossGeld ist eitel und nichtig
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

dross

[drɒs] n (Metallurgy) → scoria (fig) (rubbish) → spazzatura
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
These, in the days of their abundance, ever regarded gold as dross, and have not yet got over that only impediment in the way of their amassing wealth, but they want no dross from Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire; No, Mr Boffin; the world may term it pride, paltry pride if you will, but they wouldn't take it if you offered it; a loan, sir--for fourteen weeks to the day, interest calculated at the rate of five per cent per annum, to be bestowed upon any charitable institution you may name--is all they want of you, and if you have the meanness to refuse it, count on being despised by these great spirits.
For indeed the moonlight that fell across her bosom was not whiter than my thoughts, nor could any kiss--were it even such a kiss as Venus promised to the betrayer of Psyche--even in its fiercest delirium, be other than dross compared with the wild white peace of those silent hours when we lay thus married and maiden side by side.
Yet some feelings, unallied to the dross of human nature, beat even in these rugged bosoms.
And the Kiondiker threw down his pelts and nuggets as dross, and let his jaw fall half-way, and stared at her.
His eyes were shining like an angel's, and his face was transfigured, purged of all earthly dross, and pure and holy.
But nothing could be done until the rainy season had fairly set in; until the long-looked-for element that was to magically separate the gold from the dross in those dull mounds of dust and gravel had come of its own free will, and in its own appointed channels, independent of the feeble auxiliaries that had hopelessly riven the rocks on the hillside, or hung incomplete and unfinished in lofty scaffoldings above the settlement.
I waste no more words with thee choose between thy dross and thy flesh and blood, and as thou choosest, so shall it be.''
nothing earthly save the thrill Of melody in woodland rill - Or (music of the passion-hearted) Joy's voice so peacefully departed That like the murmur in the shell, Its echo dwelleth and will dwell - Oh, nothing of the dross of ours - Yet all the beauty - all the flowers That list our Love, and deck our bowers - Adorn yon world afar, afar - The wandering star.
Endowed with an iron frame and a stout heart, how would he have disappointed his enemies if they could only have seen, in the dark cell of the Buytenhof, his pale face lit up by the smile of the martyr, who forgets the dross of this earth after having obtained a glimpse of the bright glory of heaven.
Affecting private life, or more obscure In savage wilderness, wherefore deprive All Earth her wonder at thy acts, thyself The fame and glory--glory, the reward That sole excites to high attempts the flame Of most erected spirits, most tempered pure AEthereal, who all pleasures else despise, All treasures and all gain esteem as dross, And dignities and powers, all but the highest?
Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips, And all is dross that is not Helena.
Gold and silver we will tell them that they have from God; the diviner metal is within them, and they have therefore no need of the dross which is current among men, and ought not to pollute the divine by any such earthly admixture; for that commoner metal has been the source of many unholy deeds, but their own is undefiled.