Tarnish vs Rust - What's the difference?
tarnish | rust |
Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.
To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
To soil, sully, damage or compromise
(figurative) To lose its lustre or attraction; to become dull.
* Dryden
The deteriorated state of iron or steel as a result of moisture and oxidation.
A similar substance based on another metal (usually with qualification, such as "copper rust").
A reddish-brown color.
A disease of plants caused by a reddish-brown fungus.
(-)
to oxidize, especially of iron or steel.
to cause to oxidize.
To be affected with the parasitic fungus called rust.
(figuratively) To degenerate in idleness; to become dull or impaired by inaction.
* Dryden
In intransitive terms the difference between tarnish and rust
is that tarnish is to oxidize or discolor due to oxidation while rust is to be affected with the parasitic fungus called rust.In transitive terms the difference between tarnish and rust
is that tarnish is to soil, sully, damage or compromise while rust is to cause to oxidize.tarnish
English
Noun
(-)Verb
(es)- Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing .
- He is afraid that he will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees.
- Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright, / Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight.
rust
English
(wikipedia rust)Noun
(en noun)- The rust on my bicycle chain made cycling to work very dangerous.
- aerugo. Green or blue-green copper rust ; verdigris. (American Heritage Dictionary, 1973)
Derived terms
* cedar-apple rust * coffee rust * Rust Belt * rust bucket * rust fungus * rust mite * rustproof * rusty * stem rust * wheat rust * white pine blister rust * white rustVerb
(en verb)- The patio furniture had rusted in the wind-driven spray.
- The wind-driven spray had thoroughly rusted the patio furniture.
- Must I rust in Egypt? never more / Appear in arms, and be the chief of Greece?
