rust
/rʌst/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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.
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.
Noun
- any of various fungi causing rust disease in plants
- the formation of reddish-brown ferric oxides on iron by low-temperature oxidation in the presence of water
- a plant disease that produces a reddish-brown discoloration of leaves and stems; caused by various rust fungi
- a red or brown oxide coating on iron or steel caused by the action of oxygen and moisture
Verb
- become coated with oxide
- 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
- become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid
- The metal corroded
- The pipes rusted