Rust

Pronunciation

• enPR: rÅ­st, IPA: /rÊŒst/
• Rhymes: -ÊŒst

Origin

From Middle English rust, rost, roust, from Old English rust, rūst ("rust"), from Proto-Germanic *rustaz ("rust"), from Proto-Indo-European *rudʰso- ("red"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- ("red"). Cognate with Scots roust ("rust"), Saterland Frisian rust ("rust"), West Frisian roast ("rust"), Dutch roest ("rust"), German Rost ("rust"), Danish rust ("rust"), Swedish rost ("rust"), Norwegian rust, ryst ("rust"). Related to red.

Full definition of rust

Noun

1. The deteriorated state of iron or steel as a result of moisture and oxidation.The rust on my bicycle chain made cycling to work very dangerous.
2. A reddish-brown color.
3. A disease of plants caused by a reddish-brown fungus.

Derived terms

Verb

1. (intransitive) to oxidize, especially of iron or steel.The patio furniture had rusted in the wind-driven spray.
2. (transitive) to cause to oxidize.The wind-driven spray had thoroughly rusted the patio furniture.
3. (intransitive) To be affected with the parasitic fungus called rust.
4. (figuratively) To degenerate in idleness; to become dull or impaired by inaction.
• DrydenMust I rust in Egypt? never more
  Appear in arms, and be the chief of Greece?

Synonyms

• oxidise
  oxidize
• corrode

Anagrams

• ruts
• turs