rust

 
Pronunciation: /rʌst/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1a reddish- or yellowish-brown flaking coating of iron oxide that is formed on iron or steel by oxidation, especially in the presence of moisture: paint protects your car from rust figurative the MPs are here to scrape the rust off the derelict machinery of government
  • 2 [usually with adjective or noun modifier] a fungal disease of plants which results in reddish or brownish patches.
    • The fungi belong to Puccinia and other genera, order Uredinales, class Teliomycetes
  • 3a reddish-brown colour: [in combination]: her rust-coloured coat

verb

[no object]
  • be affected with rust: the blades had rusted away (as adjective rusting) rusting machinery

Derivatives

rustless

adjective

Origin:

Old English rūst, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch roest, German Rost, also to red