rust

Meanings

Noun

• The deteriorated state of iron or steel as a result of moisture and oxidation.
• A similar substance based on another metal (usually with qualification, such as "copper rust").
• 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

• 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.

Related

Similar words

• oxidise / oxidize
• corrode

Origin

• From Middle English rust, rost, roust, from Old English rust, rūst, 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. Related to red.
• From Middle English rusten, from the noun (see above).