rust

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a plant disease that produces a reddish-brown discoloration of leaves and stems

   Caused by various rust fungi.

2. 2
   noun

   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).

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

3. 3
   noun

   A similar substance based on another metal.

   Copper rust.

4. 4
   verb

   To oxidize, especially of iron or steel.

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

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.

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