rust — English Dictionary

Noun

1. 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).

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

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

2. A similar substance based on another metal.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   copper rust

3. A reddish-brown color.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

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

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

5. Damage caused to stamps and album pages by a fungal infection.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Verb

1. To oxidize, especially of iron or steel.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   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.

   More examples (1)

   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—[…].

2. To cause to oxidize.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

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

3. To be affected with the parasitic fungus called rust.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   I am sorry to say that, contrary to the majority, I have to report that the forage rusted rather badly.

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

   Usage

   • Transitive or intransitive
   • Figurative

   Examples

   My knowledge of Spanish has rusted over the years.

   Must I rust in Egypt? never more / Appear in arms, and be the chief of Greece?

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

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

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

Adjective

1. of the brown color of rust

   Synonyms

   rustyrust-brown

Noun

1. a red or brown oxide coating on iron or steel caused by the action of oxygen and moisture

   Broader terms

   ferric oxide

2. a plant disease that produces a reddish-brown discoloration of leaves and stems; caused by various rust fungi

   Broader terms

   plant disease

3. the formation of reddish-brown ferric oxides on iron by low-temperature oxidation in the presence of water

   Synonyms

   rusting

   Broader terms

   corrosioncorrodingerosionoxidationoxidizationoxidisation

4. any of various fungi causing rust disease in plants

   Synonyms

   rust fungus

   Broader terms

   fungus

5. A strong reddish brown color.

   Broader terms

   redredness

Verb

1. become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid

   Synonyms

   corrode

   Broader terms

   decaycrumbledilapidate

   Examples

   The metal corroded

   The pipes rusted

2. cause to deteriorate due to the action of water, air, or an acid

   Synonyms

   corrodeeat

   Broader terms

   damage

   Examples

   The acid corroded the metal

   The steady dripping of water rusted the metal stopper in the sink

3. become coated with oxide

   Broader terms

   oxidiseoxidizeoxidate