Rust is the reddish‑brown coating that forms on iron or steel when it reacts with water and air. Over time, rust can weaken and damage metal objects.
From Old English *rūst*, meaning 'rust' or 'redness', related to *rēad* meaning 'red'. The word has Germanic roots and originally referred both to the color and the corrosion.
Rust is basically metal slowly returning to a more natural, lower‑energy state—like it’s trying to go back to being rock. The color word and the chemical process are tied together because people noticed the red long before they understood the reaction. Even in language, nature keeps trying to undo our inventions.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.