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.
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Noun | 1. | 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 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
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dross
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