rust

noun

\ ˈrəst

Definition of rust

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

verb

rusted; rusting; rusts

Definition of rust (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan gave the actor a glassy red-orange lip that could be seen for miles, and then used rust tones on her eyes to accompany the look. — Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, "Maisie Williams Wore a Full Face of Urban Decay’s Game of Thrones Makeup Collection to the Season 8 Premiere," 4 Apr. 2019 This rust-resistant brass version, $19.99, will look great years to come. — Diane Cowen, Houston Chronicle, "10 things to love from Chip and Joanna Gaines new Hearth & Hand collection," 21 Jan. 2018 Here's the wildly glamorous evidence: James created a cobalt blue smokey eye with a rust orange cut crease, while Lauren's rocking a teal and purple eye with a mauve/maroon cut crease. — Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, "James Charles Slams Accusations That He Copied Another Makeup Artist's Look," 20 June 2017 Usually American tour openers such as this one can be a bit clunky as a band shakes off the rust. — Greg Kot, chicagotribune.com, "Radiohead keeps things volatile at United Center," 7 July 2018 If Porter can shake off the rust and coach Cuonzo Martin’s grinding defense can take hold, Missouri should advance. — Usa Today Sports, USA TODAY, "2018 March Madness schedule: Friday's NCAA tournament times, TV guide, info," 16 Mar. 2018 Meanwhile, a muted color palette of rust, green, and claret provides a sophisticated approach to vacation dressing. — Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "The Best New Swimwear of Summer 2019," 21 Mar. 2019 But Innisbrook and Bay Hill are not Augusta National, and the Masters is not the place to knock the rust off. — Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, "Tiger Woods wasn't in contention at the Masters, but that's beside the point," 8 Apr. 2018 The rust-belt province of Liaoning, meanwhile, has preferential tax policies for advanced manufacturing and for scientific investment, according to the report. — Lingling Wei, WSJ, "China’s Plan for Tech Dominance Is Advancing, Business Groups Say," 22 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The national railway, like Ozymandias’ statue, rusted in the wilderness. — Charles R. Morris, WSJ, "‘The Longest Line on the Map’ Review: The End of the Road," 8 Jan. 2019 Start at the stairs adjacent to the modern rusted-steel facade of the Gulch Crossing building on Demonbreun Street. — Christian L. Wright, WSJ, "A Guide to Nashville’s Chicest New Neighborhood," 5 Mar. 2019 The basketball hoops had worn nets, and the swing set had rusted handles, with one of the seats detached. — New York Times, "What Budget Cuts Mean for Third Graders in a Rural School," 5 June 2018 But after the disintegration of the USSR in 1991, Energia was left rusting in the hangars of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. — Anatoly Zak, Popular Mechanics, "Russia's New Rocket Project Might Resurrect a Soviet-Era Colossus," 24 July 2018 Stall dividers are hung from the ceiling rather than bolted to the floor—easier to clean the floor that way, and there isn’t hardware to rust on the floor. — Scott Mccartney, WSJ, "Airports Try Stall Tactic: Better Bathrooms," 2 Jan. 2019 Parts of the roof have caved in, wooden panels are missing and the kitchen stoves have rusted. — Lefteris Pitarakis, Fox News, "AP PHOTOS: Istanbul's historic orphanage awaits salvation," 9 Sep. 2018 Two state troopers were handcuffing two lanky, bedraggled guys and had them leaning over the side of their rusted out Dodge Aspen, while two German shepherds sniffed the vehicle. — Anne Slowey, Condé Nast Traveler, "Fear and Self-Loathing in the American Southwest," 25 July 2018 In this case, the film showcases a future that looks plenty familiar in anime and science fiction novels: a cluttered, rusted-out world that’s a little cyberpunk, a little steampunk, and a whole lot of classic anime series like Mobile Suit Gundam. — Tasha Robinson, The Verge, "The Verge fall movie preview, December 2018," 7 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rust.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

16 May 2019

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The first known use of rust was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for rust

rust

noun

English Language Learners Definition of rust

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a reddish substance that forms on iron or some other metal usually when it comes in contact with moisture or air

: a disease that causes plants to develop reddish-brown spots

: a reddish-brown color

rust

verb

English Language Learners Definition of rust (Entry 2 of 2)

: to form rust : to become rusty

: to cause rust to form on (something)

See the full definition for rust in the English Language Learners Dictionary

rust

noun

\ ˈrəst

Kids Definition of rust

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a reddish coating formed on metal (as iron) when it is exposed especially to moist air

2 : a plant disease caused by fungi that makes spots on plants

3 : a fungus that causes a rust

rust

verb

rusted; rusting

Kids Definition of rust (Entry 2 of 2)

: to make or become rusty

rust

noun

\ ˈrəst

Medical Definition of rust

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