wheat rust

noun

: a destructive disease of wheat caused by rust fungi
also : a fungus (such as Puccinia graminis) causing a wheat rust

Examples of wheat rust in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Japanese barberry was introduced in Boston in 1875 as a replacement for a European variety of barberry that harbored crop-damaging wheat rust. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2021 In 1970, the fungus Bipolar maydis decimated the American Corn Belt before spreading worldwide; another fungal infection, wheat rust, has caused countless famines in the Americas and India. Kate Brown, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wheat rust.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wheat rust was in 1870

Dictionary Entries Near wheat rust

Cite this Entry

“Wheat rust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheat%20rust. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wheat rust

noun
: a harmful disease of wheat caused by rust fungi
also : a fungus causing a wheat rust
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