rustyrust‧y /ˈrʌsti/ ●○○ adjective 
metal that is rusty is covered in rust: 
a rusty nail a new metal that will never go rusty2if you are rusty, you are not as good at something as you used to be, because you have not practised it for a long time: My French is a bit rusty.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A rusty old car had been abandoned at the side of the road.
- an old rusty bicycle
- I hadn't practiced for a long time, so I was really rusty.
- I opened the rusty iron gate and walked up the path.
- My Spanish is pretty rusty.
- The bicycle looked a bit rusty, but it worked.
- We haven't played in a long time, we might be a little rusty.
- Appalled by rusty, jagged equipment, she proposed replacing it in 1987.
- As soon as the adventurers enter, two of the Skeletons will rip their rusty iron manacles out of the floor and attack.
- I imagined dead mice and old wires curled recklessly in the walls, rusty pipes among antique fixtures.
- I turn a rusty handle in the part of my brain that handles mental arithmetic.
- I was rusty, my timing was a little off.
- It was attached to a rusty chain hidden in the bracken.
- The rusty wheels of his memory began to work.
- There was an old rusty freighter out in the bay that was used as a buoy.
Longman Language Activatorsomething that has decayed
something that is rotten has decayed badly and often smells unpleasant - use this especially about wood, fruit, vegetables, plants etc: · There was a disgusting smell in the house - a bit like rotten eggs.· I wouldn't climb that tree if I were you - some of the branches look rotten.· a pile of rotten apples
decayed objects and materials are ones that are gradually being destroyed by natural chemical changes: · Bees will often build their nests in decayed wood.· Sixty years ago, the average 4 year old had 7 decayed or missing teeth.· Even the stonework on the old house was decayed and crumbling.
decomposed flesh or plants are dead and are gradually being broken up and destroyed by natural chemical changes: decomposed body/remains: · The girl's decomposed body had been in the water for a long time.badly/partially/half decomposed: · Coal is the partially decomposed remains of forests that covered the earth millions of years ago.· Both men's bodies were badly decomposed.
British /moldy American something that is mouldy has a soft green or black substance growing on its surface: · All there was in the fridge was a piece of mouldy cheese and some tomatoes.· The cupboards were damp and full of moldy old clothes.go mouldy: · This pizza's so old it's gone mouldy!
rusty metal has become rough and brown because it is decaying, especially because it has not been protected from the damaging effects of water and air: · A rusty old car had been abandoned at the side of the road.· I opened the rusty iron gate and walked up the path.· The bicycle looked a bit rusty, but it worked.
metal that is corroded has become weak and has changed colour, especially because it has not been protected from the damaging effects of chemicals, water, and air: · You should never use leaking or corroded batteries.· Badly corroded metal gutters and downpipes should be replaced by the plastic type.
when you have not practised for a long time if your skill at something is rusty , it is not as good as it used to be, because you have not used it for a long time: · My Spanish is pretty rusty.· I hadn't practiced for a long time, so I was really rusty.
if you are out of practice , you cannot do something as well as you could in the past, because you have not done it for a long time: · Sam said he's a little out of practice, but he'll play if we need him.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a new metal that will never go rustyCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1 a new metal that will never go rusty (=an orange-brown colour)· It was autumn and the leaves were already rusty brown.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· As soon as the adventurers enter, two of the Skeletons will rip their rusty iron manacles out of the floor and attack.· One end of a bridge had torn loose or been dislodged, wedging tons of rusty iron in the entrance.· One or two ancient graves were neglected, rusty iron crosses dangling broken beadwork bouquets.
· Thérèse did not possess a hair shirt, or a belt spiked with rusty nails, or a scourge.· Tetanus: it doesn't have to be a rusty nail, the caption read.· In one bony hand he clutched an oak club driven through with rusty nails.
metal that is rusty is covered in rust: a rusty nail a new metal that will never go rusty2if you are rusty, you are not as good at something as you used to be, because you have not practised it for a long time: My French is a bit rusty.