Phrase guide

dust devil

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /dʌst ˈdɛvəl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A small atmospheric vortex appearing in clear, dry conditions, made visible by swirling dust (or dirt or sand) picked up from the ground.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: whirlwind, whirl, sandspout, sand pillar, willy willy (Australia)
  • A dust devil may look harmless, but a large one can overturn a car.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dirt devil, whirlwind, whirl, sandspout, sand pillar, willy willy

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: spout, vortex

2

noun

Meaning 2

a miniature whirlwind strong enough to whip dust and leaves and litter into the air

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: whirlwind

History

Etymology

From dust + devil.

Across languages

Translations

35 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: remolí de sorra — a swirling dust in the air
  • Catalan: dimoniet — a swirling dust in the air
  • Catalan: follet — a swirling dust in the air
  • Chinese Mandarin: 塵暴 /尘暴 (chénbào) — a swirling dust in the air
  • Danish: støvhvirvel — a swirling dust in the air
  • Dutch: stofhoos — a swirling dust in the air
  • Dutch: stofduivel — a swirling dust in the air
  • Finnish: pölypyörre — a swirling dust in the air
  • French: tourbillon de poussière — a swirling dust in the air
  • Galician: remuíño — a swirling dust in the air
  • German: Kleintrombe — a swirling dust in the air
  • German: Staubteufel — a swirling dust in the air
  • Greek: ανεμοστρόβιλος (anemostróvilos) — a swirling dust in the air
  • Greek: σκονοδιάβολος (skonodiávolos) — a swirling dust in the air
  • Hindi: बवंडर (bavaṇḍar) — a swirling dust in the air
  • Hungarian: porördög — a swirling dust in the air
  • Japanese: 塵旋風 (jinsenpū) — a swirling dust in the air
  • Japanese: ダストデビル (dasuto debiru) — a swirling dust in the air
  • Korean: 회오리바람 (hoe'oribaram) — a swirling dust in the air
  • Latin: vertigo — a swirling dust in the air
  • Latin: vortex — a swirling dust in the air
  • Macedonian: прашински виор (prašinski vior) — a swirling dust in the air
  • Navajo: náátsʼǫ́ʼoołdísii — a swirling dust in the air
  • Norwegian Bokmål: støvvirvel — a swirling dust in the air
  • Plautdietsch: Wintkjriesel — a swirling dust in the air
  • Polish: trąba pyłowa — a swirling dust in the air
  • Portuguese: redemoinho — a swirling dust in the air
  • Portuguese: pé-de-vento — a swirling dust in the air
  • Russian: пылево́й вихрь (pylevój vixrʹ) — a swirling dust in the air
  • Russian: пы́льный вихрь (pýlʹnyj vixrʹ) — a swirling dust in the air
  • Russian: песча́ный вихрь (pesčányj vixrʹ) — a swirling dust in the air
  • Spanish: torbellino de polvo — a swirling dust in the air
  • Spanish: remolino de polvo — a swirling dust in the air
  • Spanish: tolvanera — a swirling dust in the air
  • Swahili: kimbunga — a swirling dust in the air