Adjacent Words

Rust definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

RUST, n. [Gr. probably from its color, and allied to ruddy, red, as L. rubigo is from rubeo. See Ruddy.]
1. The oxyd of a metal; a substance composed of oxygen combined with a metal, and forming a rough coat on its surface. All metals except gold are liable to rust.
2. Loss of power by inactivity, as metals lose their brightness and smoothness when not used.
3. Any foul matter contracted; as rust on corn or salted meat.
4. Foul extraneous matter; as sacred truths cleared from the rust of human mixtures.
5. A disease in grain, a kind of dust which gathers on the stalks and leaves.
RUST, v.i.
1. To contract rust; to be oxydized and contract a roughness on the surface.
Our armors now may rust.
2. To degenerate in idleness; to become dull by inaction.
Must I rust in Egypt?
3. To gather dust or extraneous matter.
RUST, v.t.
1. To cause to contract rust.
Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.
2. To impair by time and inactivity.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: of the brown color of rust [syn: rust, rusty, rust- brown] n
1: a red or brown oxide coating on iron or steel caused by the action of oxygen and moisture
2: a plant disease that produces a reddish-brown discoloration of leaves and stems; caused by various rust fungi
3: the formation of reddish-brown ferric oxides on iron by low- temperature oxidation in the presence of water [syn: rust, rusting]
4: any of various fungi causing rust disease in plants [syn: rust, rust fungus] v
1: become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid; "The metal corroded"; "The pipes rusted" [syn: corrode, rust]
2: cause to deteriorate due to the action of water, air, or an acid; "The acid corroded the metal"; "The steady dripping of water rusted the metal stopper in the sink" [syn: corrode, eat, rust]
3: become coated with oxide

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English r?st; akin to Old English r?ad red — more at red Date: before 12th century 1. 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 2. corrosive or injurious influence or effect 3. 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 4. a strong reddish brown II. verb Date: 13th century intransitive verb 1. to form rust ; become oxidized <iron rusts> 2. to degenerate especially from inaction, lack of use, or passage of time <most men would…have allowed their faculties to rust — T. B. Macaulay> 3. to become reddish brown as if with rust <the leaves slowly rusted> 4. to be affected with a rust fungus transitive verb 1. to cause (a metal) to form rust <keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them — Shakespeare> 2. to impair or corrode by or as if by time, inactivity, or deleterious use 3. to cause to become reddish brown ; turn the color of rust

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a a reddish or yellowish-brown coating formed on iron or steel by oxidation, esp. as a result of moisture. b a similar coating on other metals. 2 a any of various plant-diseases with rust-coloured spots caused by fungi of the order Uredinales. b the fungus causing this. 3 an impaired state due to disuse or inactivity. --v. 1 tr. & intr. affect or be affected with rust; undergo oxidation. 2 intr. (of bracken etc.) become rust-coloured. 3 intr. (of a plant) be attacked by rust. 4 intr. lose quality or efficiency by disuse or inactivity. Derivatives: rustless adj. Etymology: OE rust f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Rust Rust, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rusted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rusting.] [AS. rustian.] 1. To contract rust; to be or become oxidized. If gold ruste, what shall iron do? --Chaucer. Our armors now may rust. --Dryden. 2. To be affected with the parasitic fungus called rust; also, to acquire a rusty appearance. as plants. 3. Fig.: To degenerate in idleness; to become dull or impaired by inaction. Must I rust in Egypt? never more Appear in arms, and be the chief of Greece? --Dryden.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Rust Rust, n. [AS. rust; akin to D. roest, G. & Sw. rost, Icel. ry[eth]; -- named from its color, and akin to E. red. [root]113. See Red.] 1. (Chem.) The reddish yellow coating formed on iron when exposed to moist air, consisting of ferric oxide or hydroxide; hence, by extension, any metallic film of corrosion. 2. (Bot.) A minute mold or fungus forming reddish or rusty spots on the leaves and stems of cereal and other grasses (Trichobasis Rubigo-vera), now usually believed to be a form or condition of the corn mildew (Puccinia graminis). As rust, it has solitary reddish spores; as corn mildew, the spores are double and blackish. Note: Rust is also applied to many other minute fungi which infest vegetation, such as the species of Ustilago, Uredo, and Lecythea. 3. That which resembles rust in appearance or effects. Specifically: (a) A composition used in making a rust joint. See Rust joint, below. (b) Foul matter arising from degeneration; as, rust on salted meat. (c) Corrosive or injurious accretion or influence. Sacred truths cleared from all rust and dross of human mixtures. --Eikon Basilike. Note: Rust is used in the formation of compounds of obvious meaning; as, rust-colored, rust-consumed, rust-eaten, and the like. Rust joint, a joint made between surfaces of iron by filling the space between them with a wet mixture of cast-iron borings, sal ammoniac, and sulphur, which by oxidation becomes hard, and impervious to steam, water, etc. Rust mite (Zo["o]l.), a minute mite (Phytopius oleivorus) which, by puncturing the rind, causes the rust-colored patches on oranges.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Rust Rust, v. t. 1. To cause to contract rust; to corrode with rust; to affect with rust of any kind. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. --Shak. 2. Fig.: To impair by time and inactivity. --Johnson.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ferrugo Fer*ru"go, n. [L., iron rust, fr. ferrum iron.] A disease of plants caused by fungi, commonly called the rust, from its resemblance to iron rust in color.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(rusts, rusting, rusted) 1. Rust is a brown substance that forms on iron or steel, for example when it comes into contact with water. ...a decaying tractor, red with rust... 2. When a metal object rusts, it becomes covered in rust and often loses its strength. Copper nails are better than iron nails because the iron rusts... VERB: V 3. Rust is sometimes used to describe things that are reddish-brown in colour. ...turquoise woodwork with accent colours of rust and ochre. COLOUR

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

rust (chel'ah; brosis): Strictly speaking rust is the red oxide of iron formed by the corrosion of that metal, but by extension it has come to mean corrosion produced on any metal. Chel'ah is translated "rust" in Eze 24:11,12. This rendering is probably based on 24:11. Copper caldrons are still used in Bible lands. Such vessels must be constantly watched when on the fire to guard against the possibility of their becoming dry. If this should happen the contents, whatever they may be, and the vessel itself will be injured. The copper of the caldron oxidizes and scales off in black or brownish scales, or rust. ios, was used in Greek to denote the corroding of metals. In Jas 5:3 occurs, "Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust .... shall eat your flesh as fire." The writers must have had in mind the actions of chemicals upon these metals which formed some such compound as the caustic silver nitrate.

Brosis, literally, "eating," which occurs in Mt 6:19,20, may refer to the diseases which attack such vegetation as wheat, grapes, cucumbers, etc. In no country is the saying "where moth and rust consume" (Mt 6:19) more true than in Syria. Any metal subject to corrosion seems to rust faster in that country than anywhere else. There are also many rusting fungi which the people have not learned to destroy and which do much damage to the crops.

See also SCUM.

James A. Patch

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Hydrated peroxide of iron. 2. Mildew, blight, must, mustiness, mould. II. v. n. 1. Gather rust, become rusty, be oxidized. 2. Decay, degenerate, grow dull, become sluggish.

Foolish Dictionary

Physical dullness. (See RUSTIC)

Moby Thesaurus

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