Rust Definition
rŭst
rusted, rusting, rusts
noun
rusts
The reddish-brown or reddish-yellow coating formed on iron or steel by oxidation, as during exposure to air and moisture: it consists mainly of ferric oxide, Fe2O3, and ferric hydroxide, Fe(OH)3
Webster's New World
Any coating or film formed on any other metal by oxidation or corrosion.
Webster's New World
Any stain or formation resembling iron rust.
Webster's New World
Any habit, influence, growth, etc. injurious to usefulness, to the mind or character, etc.
Webster's New World
Disuse of mental or moral powers; inactivity; idleness.
Webster's New World
verb
rusted, rusting, rusts
To become or make rust-colored.
Webster's New World
To become or cause to be coated with rust, as iron.
Webster's New World
To affect or be affected by a rust fungus.
Webster's New World
To deteriorate or spoil, as through disuse.
A mind that has rusted.
Webster's New World
To corrode or subject (a metal) to rust formation.
American Heritage
Origin of Rust
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From Middle English rust, rost, roust, from Old English rust, rÅ«st (“rust"), from Proto-Germanic *rustaz (“rust"), from Proto-Indo-European *rudÊ°so- (“red"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdÊ°- (“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"). Related to red.
From Wiktionary
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Middle English from Old English rūst reudh- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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