rush

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To move or do something very quickly, often because there is little time.

   I rushed down the hall to greet my guests.

2. 2
   verb

   To make someone do something too quickly.

   Please don't rush me while I'm deciding.

3. 3
   noun

   A sudden period of fast activity or great busyness.

   Come back later, after the lunch rush.

4. 4
   noun

   A sudden strong feeling or movement of something.

   She felt a rush of excitement as the music started.

Common collocations

• rush hour Adjective + noun

Perhaps from Middle English ruschen, russchen (“to rush, startle, make a loud rushing noise”), from Old English hrysċan (“to jolt, startle”), from Proto-West Germanic *hurskijan, from Proto-Germanic *hurskijaną (“to startle, drive”), from *hurskaz (“fast, rapid, quick”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱers- (“to run, hurry”). Cognate with Old High German hursken (“to hurry, speed, incite, accelerate”), Old English horsċ (“quick, quick-witted, clever”), Old Frisian rosk, rosch (“quick, rapid, sudden”). etymology note An alternative etymology traces rush via Middle English ruschen (“to rush”) from Ol…

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