Dust vs. Rust — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Dust and Rust
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Dust
Dust is made of fine particles of solid matter. On Earth, it generally consists of particles in the atmosphere that come from various sources such as soil lifted by wind (an aeolian process), volcanic eruptions, and pollution.
Rust
Rust is an iron oxide, a usually reddish-brown oxide formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the catalytic presence of water or air moisture. Rust consists of hydrous iron(III) oxides (Fe2O3·nH2O) and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH), Fe(OH)3), and is typically associated with the corrosion of refined iron.
Dust
Fine, dry particles of matter.
Rust
Any of various powdery or scaly reddish-brown or reddish-yellow hydrated ferric oxides and hydroxides formed on iron and iron-containing materials by low-temperature oxidation in the presence of water.
Dust
A cloud of fine, dry particles.
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Rust
Any of various metallic coatings, especially oxides, formed by corrosion.
Dust
Particles of matter regarded as the result of disintegration
Fabric that had fallen to dust over the centuries.
Rust
A stain or coating resembling iron rust.
Dust
Earth, especially when regarded as the substance of the grave
"ashes to ashes, dust to dust" (Book of Common Prayer).
Rust
Deterioration, as of ability, resulting from inactivity or neglect.
Dust
The surface of the ground.
Rust
Rust fungus.
Dust
A debased or despised condition.
Rust
A plant disease caused by a rust fungus, characterized by reddish or brownish spots on leaves, stems, and other parts.
Dust
Something of no worth.
Rust
A strong brown.
Dust
Chiefly British Rubbish readied for disposal.
Rust
To become corroded.
Dust
Confusion; agitation; commotion
Won't go back in until the dust settles.
Rust
To deteriorate or degenerate through inactivity or neglect
My golf game has rusted from all those years of not playing.
Dust
To remove dust from by wiping, brushing, or beating
Dust the furniture.
Rust
To become the color of rust.
Dust
To sprinkle with a powdery substance
Dusted the cookies with sugar.
Dust crops with fertilizer.
Rust
(Botany) To develop a disease caused by a rust fungus.
Dust
To apply or strew in fine particles
Dusted talcum powder on my feet.
Rust
To corrode or subject (a metal) to rust formation.
Dust
(Baseball) To deliver a pitch so close to (the batter) as to make the batter back away.
Rust
To impair or spoil, as by misuse or inactivity.
Dust
To clean by removing dust.
Rust
To color (something) a strong brown.
Dust
To cover itself with dry soil or other particulate matter. Used of a bird.
Rust
The deteriorated state of iron or steel as a result of moisture and oxidation.
The rust on my bicycle chain made cycling to work very dangerous.
Dust
Fine particles
Rust
A similar substance based on another metal (usually with qualification, such as "copper rust").
Aerugo. Green or blue-green copper rust; verdigris. (American Heritage Dictionary, 1973)
Dust
(uncountable) Fine, dry particles of matter found in the air and covering the surface of objects, typically consisting of soil lifted up by the wind, pollen, hair, etc.
Rust
A reddish-brown color.
Dust
Submicron particles in outer space, largely silicates and carbon compounds, that contribute greatly to extinction at visible wavelengths.
Rust
A disease of plants caused by a reddish-brown fungus.
Dust
(obsolete) A single particle of earth or other material.
Rust
(philately) Damage caused to stamps and album pages by a fungal infection.
Dust
(countable) The act of cleaning by dusting.
Rust
(intransitive) To oxidize, especially of iron or steel.
The patio furniture had rusted in the wind-driven spray.
Dust
The earth, as the resting place of the dead.
Rust
(transitive) To cause to oxidize.
The wind-driven spray had thoroughly rusted the patio furniture.
Dust
The earthy remains of bodies once alive; the remains of the human body.
Rust
(intransitive) To be affected with the parasitic fungus called rust.
Dust
(figurative) Something worthless.
Rust
To (cause to) degenerate in idleness; to make or become dull or impaired by inaction.
Dust
(figurative) A low or mean condition.
Rust
(intransitive) Of a black cat or its fur, to turn rust-coloured following long periods of exposure to sunlight.
It's very common for black cats to rust during the summer.
Dust
Cash; money (in reference to gold dust).
Rust
The reddish yellow coating formed on iron when exposed to moist air, consisting of ferric oxide or hydroxide; hence, by extension, any metallic film of corrosion.
Dust
(colloquial) A disturbance or uproar.
To raise, or kick up, a dust
Rust
A minute mold or fungus forming reddish or rusty spots on the leaves and stems of cereal and other grasses (Trichobasis Rubigo-vera), now usually believed to be a form or condition of the corn mildew (Puccinia graminis). As rust, it has solitary reddish spores; as corn mildew, the spores are double and blackish.
Dust
(mathematics) A totally disconnected set of points with a fractal structure.
Rust
That which resembles rust in appearance or effects.
Sacred truths cleared from all rust and dross of human mixtures.
Dust
(transitive) To remove dust from.
The cleaning lady needs a stool to dust the cupboard.
Rust
To contract rust; to be or become oxidized.
If gold ruste, what shall iron do?
Our armors now may rust.
Dust
(intransitive) To remove dust; to clean by removing dust.
Dusting always makes me cough.
Rust
To be affected with the parasitic fungus called rust; also, to acquire a rusty appearance, as plants.
Dust
(intransitive) Of a bird, to cover itself in sand or dry, dusty earth.
Rust
To degenerate in idleness; to become dull or impaired by inaction.
Must I rust in Egypt? never moreAppear in arms, and be the chief of Greece?
Dust
(transitive) To spray or cover something with fine powder or liquid.
The mother dusted her baby's bum with talcum powder.
Rust
To cause to contract rust; to corrode with rust; to affect with rust of any kind.
Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.
Dust
To leave; to rush off.
Rust
To impair by time and inactivity.
Dust
To reduce to a fine powder; to levigate.
Rust
A red or brown oxide coating on iron or steel caused by the action of oxygen and moisture
Dust
(slang) To kill.
Rust
A reddish-brown discoloration of leaves and stems caused by a rust fungus
Dust
Fine, dry particles of earth or other matter, so comminuted that they may be raised and wafted by the wind; that which is crumbled to minute portions; fine powder; as, clouds of dust; bone dust.
Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Stop! - for thy tread is on an empire's dust.
Rust
The formation of reddish-brown ferric oxides on iron by low-temperature oxidation in the presence of water
Dust
A single particle of earth or other matter.
Rust
Any of various fungi causing rust disease in plants
Dust
The earth, as the resting place of the dead.
For now shall sleep in the dust.
Rust
Become destroyed by water, air, or an etching chemical such as an acid;
The metal corroded
The pipes rusted
Dust
The earthy remains of bodies once alive; the remains of the human body.
And you may carve a shrine about my dust.
Rust
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
Dust
Figuratively, a worthless thing.
And by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust.
Rust
Become coated with oxide
Dust
Figuratively, a low or mean condition.
[God] raiseth up the poor out of the dust.
Rust
Of the color of rust
Dust
Gold dust
Dust
To free from dust; to brush, wipe, or sweep away dust from; as, to dust a table or a floor.
Dust
To sprinkle with dust.
Dust
To reduce to a fine powder; to levigate.
Dust
Fine powdery material such as dry earth or pollen that can be blown about in the air;
The furniture was covered with dust
Dust
The remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
Dust
Free microscopic particles of solid material;
Astronomers say that the empty space between planets actually contains measurable amounts of dust
Dust
Remove the dust from;
Dust the cabinets
Dust
Rub the dust over a surface so as to blur the outlines of a shape;
The artist dusted the charcoal drawing down to a faint image
Dust
Cover with a light dusting of a substance;
Dust the bread with flour
Dust
Distribute loosely;
He scattered gun powder under the wagon
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