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⇱ rust - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

rust

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈrʌst/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/rʌst/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(rust)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
rust /rʌst/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. Metallurgythe red coating that forms on iron when exposed to air and moisture.
  2. reddish yellow or reddish brown.

v. 
  1. Metallurgyto (cause to) become or grow rusty, as iron: [no object]The metal chairs had rusted over the winter.[~ + object]That climate will rust anything that isn't well protected.
  2. to decline in quality or ability:[no object]He could feel his pitching abilities rusting away.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
rust  (rust),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. MetallurgyAlso called iron rust. the red or orange coating that forms on the surface of iron when exposed to air and moisture, consisting chiefly of ferric hydroxide and ferric oxide formed by oxidation.
  2. Metallurgyany film or coating on metal caused by oxidation.
  3. a stain resembling this coating.
  4. any growth, habit, influence, or agency tending to injure, deteriorate, or impair the mind, character, abilities, usefulness, etc.
  5. [Plant Pathol.]
    • Plant Diseasesany of several diseases of plants, characterized by reddish, brownish, or black pustules on the leaves, stems, etc., caused by fungi of the order Uredinales.
    • Plant DiseasesAlso called rust′ fun′gus. a fungus causing this disease.
    • any of several other diseases of unknown cause, characterized by reddish-brown spots or discolorations on the affected parts.
  6. reddish yellow, reddish brown, or yellowish red.

v.i. 
  1. Metallurgyto become or grow rusty, as iron.
  2. to contract rust.
  3. to deteriorate or become impaired, as through inaction or disuse.
  4. to become rust-colored.

v.t. 
  1. to affect with rust.
  2. to impair as if with rust.
  3. to make rust-colored.
  4. Metallurgy rust out, (of metal pipes, machinery, etc.) to decay and become unusable through the action of rust.
  5. Metallurgy rust through, to develop holes, breaks, or the like, because of rust.
  6. Metallurgy rust together, to join two metal pieces, as iron pipes, by causing the joint to rust.

adj. 
  1. having the color rust.
  • bef. 900; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English rūst; cognate with German Rost; (verb, verbal) Middle English rusten, derivative of the noun, nominal; akin to red
    2. corrosion. 9. decay, decline.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
rust /rʌst/ n
  1. a reddish-brown oxide coating formed on iron or steel by the action of oxygen and moisture
  2. Also called: rust fungus
    • any basidiomycetous fungus of the order Uredinales, parasitic on cereal plants, conifers, etc
    • any of various plant diseases characterized by reddish-brown discoloration of the leaves and stem, esp that caused by the rust fungi
    • a strong brown colour, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish tinge
    • (as adjective): a rust carpet
  4. any corrosive or debilitating influence, esp lack of use
 vb
  1. to become or cause to become coated with a layer of rust
  2. to deteriorate or cause to deteriorate through some debilitating influence or lack of use: he allowed his talent to rust over the years
Etymology: Old English rūst; related to Old Saxon, Old High German rostˈrustless adj
'rust' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
In Lists: R, more...
Collocations: the [tools, nails, bolts] are covered in rust, coated in a [film, layer] of rust, has [gathered, built up, accumulated] lots of rust, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "rust" in the title:

(The) rust
a touch of rust already forming
arriving in an idiosyncratic shade of rust
as rust-red as Octavia au Lune’s are golden.
blossoms of rust
Can steel have/get rust on it?
Covered with snow/rust
How can I get/take the rust off my bike?
It will rust all over. The tyres will get flat.
Knock off the rust
New form(=kind or shape) of rust
old rust bucket (jalopy)
pronunciation: rus (as in chorus / rust)
rust
rust and cramp
<rust> <get rusty/rusted>
rust in peace
rust out for people
rust scales or rust flakes?
rust unburnish’d... shine in use
rust-rings
shake the rust off
that the car <has><had> got rust on it and <needs><needed>…
they don't rust
Trust, trust, trust before the trust rust.
truth fears lies no more than gold fears rust
wear out, rust out
wipe the floor with Rust Belt Ohio
with rust it is not needed

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