Rustle
['rʌs(ə)l] or ['rʌsl]
Definition
(noun.) a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind.
(verb.) make a dry crackling sound; 'rustling silk'; 'the dry leaves were rustling in the breeze'.
(verb.) forage food.
(verb.) take illegally; 'rustle cattle'.
Checked by Llewellyn--From WordNet
Definition
(v. i.) To make a quick succession of small sounds, like the rubbing or moving of silk cloth or dry leaves.
(v. i.) To stir about energetically; to strive to succeed; to bustle about.
(v. t.) To cause to rustle; as, the wind rustles the leaves.
(n.) A quick succession or confusion of small sounds, like those made by shaking leaves or straw, by rubbing silk, or the like; a rustling.
Typed by Konrad
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Quiver, whisper, susurration, murmur, sighing
ANT:Hubbub, blast, din, racket, crashing
Checker: Mitchell
Definition
v.i. to make a soft whispering sound as silk straw &c.: (U.S.) to stir about.—n. a quick succession of small sounds as that of dry leaves: a rustling a movement with rustling sound.—ns. Rus′tler one who or that which rustles: (U.S.) an active fellow; Rus′tling a quick succession of small sounds as that of dry leaves.—adv. Rus′tlingly.
Typist: Malcolm
Examples
- A rustle in a field beyond the hedge attracted his attention. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Presently there was a rustle and a tap, and then some more rustling and another tap. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Perfect stillness ensued--not a rustle--not a breath--Guilty. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Then a key clicked in a lock, and I heard the rustle of papers. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- I heard a sharp rustle, the night air blew into the heated room, and the avenger was gone. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- If I talked to Steerforth in his room, I heard her dress rustle in the little gallery outside. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Not a rustle of the housekeeper's dress, not a gesture, not a word betrays her. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Deep in midnight, she was awaked by a rustling near her; she would have started up, but her stiff joints refused to obey her will. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Presently there was a rustle and a tap, and then some more rustling and another tap. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- She is rather long, notwithstanding; but by and by I hear a rustling at the door, and someone taps. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- He heard a rustling on his left hand, a cloaked figure with an upturned face appeared at the base of the Barrow, and Clym descended. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- Nobody had disturbed her, no faint rustling of the silk dress had been audible, either in the ante-room or in the passage. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- I heard the rustling of her gown. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- No rustling of the leaves--no bird's note in the wood--no cry of water-fowl from the pools of the hidden lake. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Her garments rustled as she rushed towards the door. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- The bed-clothes rustled. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- The boat rustled lightly along the water. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- I won't care for it, or let it change me a bit, thought Meg, and rustled across the room to shake hands with her friend. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- There was a little shelter of green branches outside over the entrance and in the dark the night wind rustled the leaves dried by the sun. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- The first sound that came after the heavenly peace rustled faintly like a passing breath of air over the grass of the burial-ground. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- There was a long pause, while a blackbird sung blithely on the willow by the river, and the tall grass rustled in the wind. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- The heart's blood must gem with red beads the brow of the combatant, before the wreath of victory rustles over it. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Who else rustles about it, making signals by dropping dust so softly? Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
Checker: Muriel