rust meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

rust

noun

UK, US /ɹʌst/ · Northern-England /ɹʊst/

Etymology From Middle English rust, rost, roust, from Old English rust, rūst (“rust”), from Proto-West Germanic *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”), Finnish ruoste, Estonian rooste. Related to red.

The deteriorated state of iron or steel as a result of moisture and oxidation; it consists mostly of iron(III) oxide (ferric oxide) and iron(II) oxide (ferrous oxide).

The rust on my bicycle chain made cycling to work very dangerous.

A similar substance based on another metal.

copper rust

A reddish-brown color.

A disease of plants caused by a reddish-brown fungus (Pucciniales).

Hobbies, Lifestyle, Philately Damage caused to stamps and album pages by a fungal infection.

Derived terms: 41 terms
antirust, anti-rust, black rust, carrot rust fly, cedar-apple rust, coffee leaf rust, coffee rust, derust, gooseberry rust, mayapple rust, myrtle rust, nab the rust, Rust, rust belt, rustbelt, rust-belt, Rust Belt, rust bucket, rust-bucket, rustbucket, bucket of rust, rust fly, rust-free, rustful, rust fungus, rustgill, rusticle, rust joint, rustless, rustlike, rust mite, rustproof, rust through, rusty, soybean rust, spinning rust, stem rust, unrust, wheat rust, white pine blister rust, white rust
Related terms: hematite

rust

verb

Etymology From Middle English rusten, from the noun (see above).

To oxidize, especially of iron or steel.

The patio furniture had rusted in the wind-driven spray.
Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire.1946, International Council of Religious Education, The New Covenant, Commonly Called the New Testament of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Revised Standard Version, James 5:3, page 490

1 more example

The relegation of locomotives to storage seemed to be on a very unsystematic basis on all three principal Irish railways: while one member of a class was rusting in a yard, another might be hard at work in revenue-earning service—[…].1959 June 23, R. A. Young, “A Railway Holiday in Ireland—2”, in Railway Magazine, page 416:

To cause to oxidize.

The wind-driven spray had thoroughly rusted the patio furniture.

To be affected with the parasitic fungus called rust.

I am sorry to say that, contrary to the majority, I have to report that the forage rusted rather badly.1902 January 3, “Mapstone Oats: Further Experiences”, in The Agricultural Journal and Mining Record, volume 4, number 22, page 688:

Ambitransitive, Figuratively To (cause to) degenerate in idleness; to make or become dull or impaired by inaction.

Must I rust in Egypt? never more / Appear in arms, and be the chief of Greece?1692, John Dryden, Cleomenes, the Spartan Hero, a Tragedy:

Of a black cat or its fur, to turn rust-coloured following long periods of exposure to sunlight.

It's very common for black cats to rust during the summer.

Synonyms: oxidise, oxidize, corrode
Derived terms: nonrusting, rustability, rustable, rust away, rust off, rust out, rust through, unrusting
Related terms: aeciospore, ferric oxide, ferruginous, rouille, rubiginous, verdigris

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