rust

1 of 2

noun

ˈrəst 

1

a

: the reddish brittle coating formed on iron especially when chemically attacked by moist air and composed essentially of hydrated ferric oxide

b

: a comparable coating produced on a metal other than iron by corrosion

c

: something resembling rust : accretion

2

: corrosive or injurious influence or effect

3

: any of numerous destructive diseases of plants produced by fungi (order Uredinales) and characterized by usually reddish-brown pustular lesions

also : a fungus causing this

4

: a strong reddish brown

rust

2 of 2

verb

rusted; rusting; rusts

intransitive verb

1

: to form rust : become oxidized

iron rusts

2

: to degenerate especially from inaction, lack of use, or passage of time

most men would … have allowed their faculties to rust

—T. B. Macaulay

3

: to become reddish brown as if with rust

the leaves slowly rusted

4

: to be affected with a rust fungus

transitive verb

1

: to cause (a metal) to form rust

keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them

—William Shakespeare

2

: to impair or corrode by or as if by time, inactivity, or deleterious use

3

: to cause to become reddish brown : turn the color of rust

Examples of rust in a Sentence

Noun

an old pump covered in rust

Verb

Your bicycle will rust if you leave it out in the rain.

The moist air rusted the latch on the door.

The old iron fence was rusted.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The lifts there closed for the final time at the end of the 2013–14 season, and the skeletal pylons still strewn across the hillside have long since turned to rust. —WIRED, 18 Sep. 2023

The Ravens also showed some rust in last week’s 25-9 win over Houston, during which running back J.K. Dobbins was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. —Mark Heim | [e-mail], al, 17 Sep. 2023

The assembled team of maritime experts judged that the liner’s remains were rapidly falling apart, done in by rust, corrosive salts, microbes and deep-sea creatures. —Catherine Porter, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2023

Beginning Sunday against Cincinnati, the Browns must prove that reps can cure Watson’s rust. —Jimmy Watkins, cleveland, 7 Sep. 2023

As the sun begins to set and clarinet notes rise, the surrounding canyon turns from rust to pink to gold. —Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Sep. 2023

Even with the sloppy weather and Joe Burrow’s rust deriving from a recent injury, the Browns’ defense appeared improved under Jim Schwartz, a veteran coordinator who was hired in January. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2023

Watson was still knocking off rust in Cleveland’s 23-10 loss to Cincinnati last season, his second game after returning. —Mark Heim | [e-mail], al, 10 Sep. 2023

Even if Watson comes out flat or showing slight rust, his room of pass catchers is constructed to be full of talent, that can clean up Watson’s mistakes. —Irie Harris, cleveland, 8 Sep. 2023

Verb

As a bonus, the holder comes in an antique bone color or black, and the resin material is waterproof and won’t rust when exposed to moisture. —Sarah Wolf Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2023

The leaves on the trees run from green to yellow to rust. —Patricia Harris and David Lyon, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2023

For a start, the steel industry was almost dead, and the shuttered plants were rusting away. —Werner Herzog, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023

The grates covering those burners are crafted from sturdy porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates resistant to rust and corrosion. —Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 24 July 2023

Unfortunately, the harsh duty cycle of most off-roaders, combined with the original Scout's extreme propensity to rust, means that an OG Scout is a rare sight today. —Joe Lorio, Car and Driver, 1 Sep. 2023

They are usually constructed of durable metal or aluminum that is resistant to rust and corrosion. —Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2023

Be sure to roll your cart somewhere safe during inclement weather to prevent it from rusting. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023

Broken pipes float on the surface, and oil drills are rusting and sinking into the water. —Sheyla Urdaneta Adriana Loureiro Fernandez, New York Times, 22 July 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English rūst; akin to Old English rēad red — more at red

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing rust

• cedar-apple rust
• anti-rust
• blister rust
• crown rust
• leaf rust
• red rust
• rust belt
• stem rust
• rust mite
• rust bucket
• wheat rust
• white-pine blister rust
• white rust

See More

• cedar-apple rust
• anti-rust
• blister rust
• crown rust
• leaf rust
• red rust
• rust belt
• stem rust
• rust mite
• rust bucket
• wheat rust
• white-pine blister rust
• white rust

See More

Kids Definition

rust

1 of 2 noun

ˈrəst 

1

: a reddish brittle coating formed on iron especially when chemically attacked by moist air and composed chiefly of ferric oxide

2

a

: any of numerous destructive diseases of plants caused by fungi and characterized by reddish brown spots

b

: any of an order of fungi that cause plant rusts

3

: a reddish brown

rust

2 of 2 verb

: to form or cause to form rust

iron rusts

Medical Definition

rust

noun

ˈrəst 

1

: the reddish brittle coating formed on iron especially when chemically attacked by moist air and composed essentially of hydrated ferric oxide

2

: any of numerous destructive diseases of plants produced by fungi (order Uredinales) and characterized by reddish brown pustular lesions

also : a fungus causing this