dirty word
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dirty word
n.
1. An obscene or vulgar word.
2. A word, expression, or concept viewed as odious or intolerable: a feisty campaigner to whom "give up" was a dirty word.
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.
dirt′y word′
n.
1. a vulgar or taboo word; obscenity.
2. any word, name, or concept considered loathsome or unmentionable: “Lose” is a dirty word to this team.
[1835–45]
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. | dirty word - an offensive or indecent word or phrase Irish bull, crap, bull - obscene words for unacceptable behavior; "I put up with a lot of bullshit from that jerk"; "what he said was mostly bull" bawdry, bawdy - lewd or obscene talk or writing; "it was smoking-room bawdry"; "they published a collection of Elizabethan bawdy" scatology - a preoccupation with obscenity (especially that dealing with excrement or excretory functions) profanity - vulgar or irreverent speech or action Fanny Adams, sweet Fanny Adams - little or nothing at all; "I asked for a raise and they gave me bugger-all"; "I know sweet Fanny Adams about surgery" |
2. | dirty word - a word that is considered to be unmentionable; "`failure' is a dirty word to him" word - a unit of language that native speakers can identify; "words are the blocks from which sentences are made"; "he hardly said ten words all morning" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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