dusting

noun

dust·​ing ˈdə-stiŋ 

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

Serve right away for a warm dish, garnished with a dusting of paprika, or refrigerate until ready to serve. —Gretchen McKay, The Mercury News, 13 June 2024

With a fresh dusting of snow and a bright blue sky, the lake’s reflection showcases a whole kaleidoscope of color. —Kristen Pope, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2024

It could also be garnished with a dusting of confectioners' sugar, sprinkling of toasted pecans, walnuts, or almonds, or a few leaves of fresh mint or thyme for a pop of color. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 4 June 2024

People in various parts of Greater Cincinnati may have awoken to a light dusting of snow outside their homes and atop their vehicles as flurries showered the region Saturday morning. —Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1