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¹rust

noun \ˈrəst\

: 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

Full Definition of RUST

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

: corrosive or injurious influence or effect

: 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

: a strong reddish brown

See rust defined for English-language learners

See rust defined for kids

Origin of RUST

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with RUST

bust, crust, dust, gust, just, lust, must, musth, thrust, trust

²rust

verb

: to form rust : to become rusty

: to cause rust to form on (something)

Full Definition of RUST

intransitive verb

: to form rust : become oxidized <iron rusts>

: to degenerate especially from inaction, lack of use, or passage of time <most men would … have allowed their faculties to rust — T. B. Macaulay>

: to become reddish brown as if with rust <the leaves slowly rusted>

: to be affected with a rust fungus

transitive verb

: to cause (a metal) to form rust <keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them — Shakespeare>

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

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

See rust defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of RUST

13th century

RUST Defined for Kids

¹rust

noun \ˈrəst\

Definition of RUST for Kids

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

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

: a fungus that causes a rust

²rust

verb

rust·edrust·ing

Definition of RUST for Kids

: to make or become rusty

Medical Dictionary

rust

noun \ˈrəst\

Medical Definition of RUST

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

: any of numerous destructive diseases of plants produced by fungi (order Uredinales) and characterized by reddish brown pustular lesions; also : a fungus causing this