crop duster: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Technical, Agricultural, Informal
Quick answer
What does “crop duster” mean?
An aircraft or a pilot whose job is to spray crops with pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers from the air.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An aircraft or a pilot whose job is to spray crops with pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers from the air.
By extension, can refer to the practice of aerial application of agricultural chemicals, the aircraft used for this purpose (often a small, rugged, low-flying plane), or the business entity conducting the operation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is far more common in American English due to the vast scale of American agriculture and prevalence of aerial application. In the UK, aerial spraying is less common and more regulated, so the term is less frequent.
Connotations
Both varieties share connotations of rural life, agricultural industry, and sometimes a romanticized or dangerous image of low-flying pilots. In the UK, it may have a slightly more exotic or Americanized connotation.
Frequency
High frequency in relevant contexts (agriculture, aviation) in AmE; low frequency in general BrE, limited to specific technical or descriptive contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “crop duster” in a Sentence
The [crop duster] sprayed the [field].He works as a [crop duster].A [crop duster] flew overhead.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crop duster” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The contractor was hired to crop-dust the entire estate.
American English
- They'll start crop-dusting at dawn to avoid the wind.
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable; no standard adverbial form.]
American English
- [Not applicable; no standard adverbial form.]
adjective
British English
- The old crop-duster biplane was in the museum.
American English
- He got his start in the crop-duster business with one plane.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The crop duster's business relies on large farms and timely contracts.
Academic
The study analyzed the environmental impact of crop duster drift compared to ground-based application.
Everyday
We saw a crop duster working the fields all morning.
Technical
The Air Tractor AT-802 is a modern turbine-powered crop duster with a 800-gallon hopper.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crop duster”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crop duster”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crop duster”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He crop dusted the field' is informal/regional; standard is 'He sprayed the field' or 'He flew as a crop duster').
- Confusing it with a ground-based farm implement.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the term is historical. Modern aerial application almost exclusively uses liquid sprays, though the original method involved dry powder or 'dust'.
They are typically small, single-engine aircraft with sturdy construction, like the Air Tractor, Thrush, or modified versions of planes like the Piper Pawnee. They are designed for low-speed, low-altitude flying and have large tanks for chemicals.
In the industry, the formal term is 'aerial applicator' or 'ag pilot'. 'Crop duster' is the common, informal name for both the pilot and the aircraft.
Pilots must fly very low and slow, often in turbulent conditions near the ground, while maneuvering around obstacles like trees, power lines, and uneven terrain. They are also exposed to agricultural chemicals.
An aircraft or a pilot whose job is to spray crops with pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers from the air.
Crop duster: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɒp ˌdʌs.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɑːp ˌdʌs.tɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No direct idioms. The term itself is a fixed compound.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a plane DUSTING a field of CROPs with a fine powder. CROP + DUSTER = plane that dusts crops.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGRICULTURE IS WARFARE (against pests/weeds); the crop duster is an 'aerial attack' vehicle.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a crop duster?