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 actor wore a black suit and rust tie and O’Toole wore a coordinated look — a pantsuit with a cream blouse. —Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 29 Oct. 2024

The corduroy is available in the women’s NAO high-rise bootcut jean, offered in black, brown and rust and men’s AMS slim jeans in brown. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Oct. 2024

Verb

And if moisture is present, canned goods will rust. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2024

Chairs roll across a sloped office floor, and the metal-and-wood outer walls of the main building are rusted and rotting. —Matt Krupnick, ProPublica, 14 Oct. 2024

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

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

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