Definition

1. Noun:

   • A reddish-brown or orange coating that forms on iron or steel when exposed to oxygen and moisture: This is the most common meaning, referring to the corrosive product of oxidation.
   • A plant disease: A disease that causes reddish-brown spots on leaves and stems, caused by fungi.
   • A color: The reddish-brown color typical of oxidized iron.
   • A fungus: Any of various fungi that cause rust disease in plants.

2. Verb:

   • To become coated with rust: The process by which iron or steel corrodes and forms rust.
   • To cause something to deteriorate due to oxidation or corrosion: To make something rusty.
   • To deteriorate or weaken through lack of use or activity: Often used figuratively for skills or abilities.

3. Adjective:

   • Of the reddish-brown color of rust: Describing something that is the color of rust.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The old bicycle was covered in rust.
  • The farmer was worried about rust affecting his wheat crop.
  • She painted the door a warm rust color.

• Verb:

  • If you leave your tools in the rain, they will rust.
  • Salt water can rust metal very quickly.
  • My piano skills have rusted from lack of practice.

• Adjective:

  • He wore a rust-colored jacket.

Advanced Usage

• "to rust away": To gradually corrode and disintegrate completely.

  • The abandoned car in the field is slowly rusting away.

• "to rust out": To become useless or hollow due to rust; often used figuratively.

  • The pipes rusted out and needed replacement.
  • Better to wear out than to rust out. (Idiom: It's better to be active and become tired than to be inactive and deteriorate.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rusty (adj): Covered with rust; impaired by lack of recent practice.

  • The rusty hinge squeaked loudly.
  • My French is a bit rusty.

• Rustproof (adj): Treated or coated to resist rust.

  • We bought rustproof garden furniture.

• Rustication (n): The process of rusticating; a textured masonry finish. (Note: This is a different, architectural meaning).

Synonyms

• Corrode (v): To wear away, especially by chemical action.
• Oxidize (v): To combine with oxygen.
• Tarnish (v): To lose luster, especially of metals (often used for silver).
• Decay (v): To rot or decompose.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Rust through: To corrode to the point of creating a hole.
  • The bottom of the bucket had rusted through.

Related Idioms

• Gather/Pick up rust: To become rusty, either literally or figuratively (for skills).

  • If you don't play regularly, your guitar technique will gather rust.

• The rust belt: A term for regions, especially in the US, characterized by declining industry and aging factories.

  • Many factories in the rust belt closed in the late 20th century.

Adjective

1. of the brown color of rust

Noun

1. any of various fungi causing rust disease in plants
2. the formation of reddish-brown ferric oxides on iron by low-temperature oxidation in the presence of water
3. a plant disease that produces a reddish-brown discoloration of leaves and stems; caused by various rust fungi
4. a red or brown oxide coating on iron or steel caused by the action of oxygen and moisture

Verb

1. become coated with oxide
2. cause to deteriorate due to the action of water, air, or an acid
   • The acid corroded the metal
   • The steady dripping of water rusted the metal stopper in the sink
3. become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid
   • The metal corroded
   • The pipes rusted