rustle

CEFRB2

/ˈɹʌsəl/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To make a soft sound by moving dry leaves or paper.

  2. 02

    verb

    To move quietly and quickly, often while trying not to be noticed.

Examples

  • The leaves on the trees rustle gently in the wind.

  • The leaves rustle in the wind.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
3
Synonyms
1

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. A movement producing such a sound.

  2. To move (something) with a soft crackling sound.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A soft crackling sound similar to the movement of dry leaves.

More examples

In context

  • He heard the silken rustle of a dressing-gown being drawn on.

  • When at last the lumber was piled again in its rightful place, and the boxes of food had been returned to the shelter from which they had been stolen, the two friends rustled a meal, and then set off on horseback […]

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The leaves began to blank softly as the wind passed through the trees.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English rustelen, russelen, of uncertain origin, but probably from Old English hrūxlian, hristlan, hrystlan, hristlian (“to make a noise”). Compare also Scots reesle (“to crackle; rattle; rustle”), West Frisian risselje, Dutch ritselen (“to rustle”), Afrikaans ritsel (“to rustle”), German rascheln (“to rustle”).