rustle

¹rus·tle

verb \ˈrə-səl\

rus·tledrus·tling \ˈrə-s(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of RUSTLE

intransitive verb

1

: to make or cause a rustle

2

a : to act or move with energy or speed

b : to forage food

3

: to steal cattle

transitive verb

1

: to cause to rustle

2

a : to obtain by one's own exertions —often used with up <able to rustle up $5,000 bail — Jack McCallum>

b : forage

3

: to steal (as livestock) especially from a farm or ranch

— rus·tler \-s(ə-)lər\ noun

Examples of RUSTLE

1. The trees rustled in the wind.
2. Her skirt rustled as she walked.
3. He rustled the papers on his desk.

Origin of RUSTLE

Middle English rustelen

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to RUSTLE

Synonyms

browse, forage, pasture, ¹graze

Antonyms

crawl, creep, poke

Related Words

eat, feed, nibble; range, stock; overgraze

Near Antonyms

dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry; amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll; decelerate, slow (down or up)

Rhymes with RUSTLE

bustle, hustle, muscle, mussel, tussle

²rustle

noun

Definition of RUSTLE

: a quick succession or confusion of small sounds

Examples of RUSTLE

1. He heard a rustle of leaves behind him.

First Known Use of RUSTLE

1759

Rhymes with RUSTLE

bustle, hustle, muscle, tussle