rust

American  

[ruhst] / rʌst /

noun

1. Also called iron rust.  the red or orange coating that forms on the surface of iron when exposed to air and moisture, consisting chiefly of ferric hydroxide and ferric oxide formed by oxidation.

2. any film or coating on metal caused by oxidation.

   Synonyms:

   corrosion

3. a stain resembling this coating.

4. any growth, habit, influence, or agency tending to injure, deteriorate, or impair the mind, character, abilities, usefulness, etc.

5. Plant Pathology.

   1. any of several diseases of plants, characterized by reddish, brownish, or black pustules on the leaves, stems, etc., caused by fungi of the order Uredinales.

   2. Also called rust fungus.  a fungus causing this disease.

   3. any of several other diseases of unknown cause, characterized by reddish-brown spots or discolorations on the affected parts.

6. reddish yellow, reddish brown, or yellowish red.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to become or grow rusty, as iron.

2. to contract rust.

3. to deteriorate or become impaired, as through inaction or disuse.

   Synonyms:

   decline, decay

4. to become rust-colored.

verb (used with object)

1. to affect with rust.

2. to impair as if with rust.

3. to make rust-colored.

adjective

1. having the color rust.

verb phrase

1. rust out (of metal pipes, machinery, etc.) to decay and become unusable through the action of rust.

2. rust together to join two metal pieces, as iron pipes, by causing the joint to rust.

3. rust through to develop holes, breaks, or the like, because of rust.

rust British  

/ rʌst /

noun

1. a reddish-brown oxide coating formed on iron or steel by the action of oxygen and moisture

2. Also called: rust fungus.  plant pathol

   1. any basidiomycetous fungus of the order Uredinales , parasitic on cereal plants, conifers, etc

   2. any of various plant diseases characterized by reddish-brown discoloration of the leaves and stem, esp that caused by the rust fungi

3. 1. a strong brown colour, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish tinge

   2. ( as adjective )

      a rust carpet

4. any corrosive or debilitating influence, esp lack of use

---

verb

1. to become or cause to become coated with a layer of rust

2. to deteriorate or cause to deteriorate through some debilitating influence or lack of use

   he allowed his talent to rust over the years

rust Scientific  

/ rŭst /

1. Any of the various reddish-brown oxides of iron that form on iron and many of its alloys when they are exposed to oxygen in the presence of moisture.

2. 1. Any of various basidiomycete fungi that are parasitic on plants and produce reddish or brownish spots on leaves. Rusts attack a wide variety of plants and can cause enormous damage to crops.

   2. Any of the various plant diseases caused by these fungi.

---

1. To become corroded or oxidized.

Other Word Forms

• derust verb (used with object)
• rustless adjective
• unrust verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of rust

before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English rūst; cognate with German Rost; (v.) Middle English rusten, derivative of the noun; akin to red ¹

Example Sentences

Now they are rusting monuments to Scotland's industrial past.

From BBC

CABIMAS, Venezuela — The pumps that brought prosperity from deep in the Earth’s crust are now mostly rusted relics of a storied past.

From Los Angeles Times

While I confess to having more than three bedrooms in my colonial, I’ll continue to drive my 2014 Jeep until the engine fails or the car rusts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some 220 medals at the 2024 Games in Paris, which contained a small piece of scrap metal from the Eiffel Tower, had to be replaced because they quickly turned black or rusted.

From Barron's

Draper looked sharp on his return and there was little sign of rust in what turned out to be a very gentle stroll past Durasovic.

From BBC

Related Words

• decay
• deteriorate
• wither