rust

Plural: rusts

Noun

a red or brown oxide coating on iron or steel caused by the action of oxygen and moisture
a plant disease that produces a reddish-brown discoloration of leaves and stems; caused by various rust fungi
the formation of reddish-brown ferric oxides on iron by low-temperature oxidation in the presence of water
any of various fungi causing rust disease in plants
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).
A similar substance based on another metal.
A reddish-brown color.
A disease of plants caused by a reddish-brown fungus.
Damage caused to stamps and album pages by a fungal infection.

Verb

Verb Forms: rusted, rusting, rusts

To form a reddish-brown coating on iron or steel.
become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid
- "The pipes rusted"
cause to deteriorate due to the action of water, air, or an acid
- "The steady dripping of water rusted the metal stopper in the sink"
become coated with oxide
To oxidize, especially of iron or steel.
To cause to oxidize.
To be affected with the parasitic fungus called rust.
To (cause to) degenerate in idleness; to make or become dull or impaired by inaction.
Of a black cat or its fur, to turn rust-coloured following long periods of exposure to sunlight.

Adjective Satellite

of the brown color of rust

Examples

copper rust
It's very common for black cats to rust during the summer.
The rust on my bicycle chain made cycling to work very dangerous.
The wind-driven spray had thoroughly rusted the patio furniture.
Without regular practice, his Scrabble skills began to rust, losing their sharp edge.

Origin / 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.

Synonyms

corrode, eat, rust fungus, rust-brown, rusting, rusty, oxidise, oxidize

Scrabble Score: 4

rust: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
rust: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
rust: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 5

rust: valid Words With Friends Word