encrust

verb

en·​crust in-ˈkrəst 

iŋ-

variants or less commonly incrust

encrusted also incrusted; encrusting also incrusting; encrusts also incrusts

transitive verb

: to cover, line, or overlay with or as if with a crust

intransitive verb

: to form a crust

Synonyms

• smear
• cake

Examples of encrust in a Sentence

refrigerator shelves that were encrusted with the residue of many spills

Recent Examples on the Web

In the living room, wall panels composed of plaster, wood, and resin are encrusted with plexiglass and semiprecious stones. —Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 26 Aug. 2025

Opt for one encrusted with diamonds. —Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2025

The eggs were crafted from gold or silver and encrusted with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones. —Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Edward Herman from the Cook Islands' Seabed Minerals Authority holding polymetallic nodules, misshapen black globes encrusted with cobalt, nickel, manganese and other coveted metals, on June 12, 2025. —Hugh Cameron john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from Latin incrustare, from in- + crusta crust

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for encrust

• adjust
• combust
• discussed
• disgust
• distrust
• entrust
• intrust
• mistrust
• nonplussed
• robust
• sawdust
• stardust

Kids Definition

encrust

verb

en·​crust

variants also incrust

in-ˈkrəst

1

: to cover with a crust

2

: to form a crust

Medical Definition

encrust

transitive verb

en·​crust

variants also incrust

in-ˈkrəst 

: to cover, line, or overlay with a crust

intransitive verb

: to form a crust