noun
Uncommon
rust
ruhst
Rust (noun) means the reddish-brown coating that forms on iron or steel when it reacts with moisture and oxygen over time. Example: “The old bike chain was covered in rust after sitting out in the rain all winter.”
noun
1
The reddish-brown coating that forms on iron or steel when it reacts with moisture and oxygen over time.
"The old bike chain was covered in rust after sitting out in the rain all winter."
"She scraped the rust off the gate before repainting it."
"Rust had eaten a hole through the bottom of the old bucket."
2
A reddish-brown color, named after the corrosion.
"The autumn leaves turned a deep rust color."
"She painted the front door a warm shade of rust."
"The sofa was a rich rust and looked lovely against the cream walls."
verb
1
To corrode or become covered in rust, or to cause something to do so.
"Leave that tool out in the damp and it will rust within weeks."
"Road salt rusts car bodywork much faster than fresh water does."
2
To lose sharpness or ability through lack of use.
"His French had rusted after a decade of not speaking it."
"If you stop practising the piano, your skills will start to rust."
"I haven't played chess for years, so my game has rusted badly."
How to use rust
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe reddish coating that eats away at metal when it is exposed to air and water, or (as a verb) for a skill to go stale from disuse.
Common mistake
When talking about a skill, "rusty" (adjective) is far more common than "rusted" — "my Spanish is rusty," not "my Spanish is rusted."
Common pairings
rust away
covered in rust
rust spots
prevent rust
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Word forms
- Plural
- rusts
- Third person singular
- rusts
- Past tense
- rusted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old bike chain was covered in _____ after sitting out in the rain all winter.
Etymology
From Old English rust, going back to a very old Germanic root meaning "red" — the same root that gives us the word "red" itself.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for rust
See all rhymes for rust →Frequently asked questions
What does “rust” mean?
The word “rust” means the reddish-brown coating that forms on iron or steel when it reacts with moisture and oxygen over time. In plain terms, the reddish coating that eats away at metal when it is exposed to air and water, or (as a verb) for a skill to go stale from disuse.
How do you pronounce “rust”?
“Rust” is pronounced ruhst (/ɹʌst/ in IPA).
How do you use “rust” in a sentence?
Here is “rust” used in a sentence: “The old bike chain was covered in rust after sitting out in the rain all winter.”
What is another word for “rust”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rust” include oxidise, oxidize and corrode.
What part of speech is “rust”?
Depending on how it is used, “rust” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “rust” come from?
The word “rust” comes from Old English. From Old English rust, going back to a very old Germanic root meaning "red" — the same root that gives us the word "red" itself.
Is “rust” a common word?
“Rust” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “rust” have?
“Rust” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the reddish-brown coating that forms on iron or steel when it reacts with moisture and oxygen over time.
What is the difference between rust and corrosion?
Rust specifically refers to the reddish-brown coating that forms on iron or steel when it reacts with moisture and oxygen, while corrosion is the broader term covering the deterioration of any metal through chemical reaction, including metals that do not rust, such as aluminum or copper. All rust is a form of corrosion, but not all corrosion is rust.
What causes metal to rust?
Metal rusts when iron or steel reacts with moisture and oxygen over time, gradually forming a reddish-brown coating on its surface. This reaction weakens the metal and can eventually cause it to flake or crumble if left untreated.
What does it mean to say skills have gotten rusty?
Saying skills are rusty uses rust figuratively to mean they have lost sharpness or ability through lack of use, much like metal loses strength when it corrodes. It implies the ability still exists but needs practice to restore it to its previous level.
