rush Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner
    hurry; haste; rushing.
    • in his haste to leave he forgot his book
  2. noun a sudden forceful flow
    upsurge; spate; surge.
  3. noun grasslike plants growing in wet places and having cylindrical often hollow stems
  4. noun physician and American Revolutionary leader; signer of the Declaration of Independence (1745-1813)
    Benjamin Rush.
  5. noun the swift release of a store of affective force
    thrill; boot; charge; bang; flush; kick.
    • they got a great bang out of it
    • what a boot!
    • he got a quick rush from injecting heroin
    • he does it for kicks
  6. noun a sudden burst of activity
    • come back after the rush
  7. noun (American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
    rushing.
    • the linebackers were ready to stop a rush
  8. verb move fast
    bucket along; hotfoot; belt along; cannonball along; race; step on it; hie; hasten; speed; pelt along; rush along.
    • He rushed down the hall to receive his guests
    • The cars raced down the street
  9. verb attack suddenly
  10. verb urge to an unnatural speed
    hurry.
    • Don't rush me, please!
  11. verb act or move at high speed
    hasten; festinate; look sharp; hurry.
    • We have to rush!
    • hurry--it's late!
  12. verb run with the ball, in football
  13. verb cause to move fast or to rush or race
    race.
    • The psychologist raced the rats through a long maze
  14. verb cause to occur rapidly
    hasten; stimulate; induce.
    • the infection precipitated a high fever and allergic reactions
  15. adjective satellite not accepting reservations
    first-come-first-serve.
  16. adjective satellite done under pressure
    rushed.
    • a rush job

WordNet

Rush noun
Etymology
OE. rusche, rische, resche, AS. risce, akin to LG. rusk, risch, D. & G. rusch; all probably fr. L. ruscum butcher's broom; akin to Goth. raus reed, G. rohr.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A name given to many aquatic or marsh-growing endogenous plants with soft, slender stems, as the species of Juncus and Scirpus. ✍ Some species are used in bottoming chairs and plaiting mats, and the pith is used in some places for wicks to lamps and rushlights.
  2. The merest trifle; a straw.
    John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush. Arbuthnot.
Rush intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. ruschen; cf. AS. hryscan to make a noise, D. ruischen to rustle, G. rauschen, MHG. rschen ro rush, to rustle, LG. rusken, OSw. ruska, Icel. & Sw. ruska to shake, Dan. ruske to shake, and E. rouse.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Rushed ; present participle & verbal noun Rushing
Definitions
  1. To move forward with impetuosity, violence, and tumultuous rapidity or haste; as, armies rush to battle; waters rush down a precipice.
    Like to an entered tide, they all rush by. Shak.
  2. To enter into something with undue haste and eagerness, or without due deliberation and preparation; as, to rush business or speculation.
    They . . . never think it to be a part of religion to rush into the office of princes and ministers. Sprat.
Rush transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To push or urge forward with impetuosity or violence; to hurry forward.
  2. To recite (a lesson) or pass (an examination) without an error. College Cant, U.S.
Rush noun
Definitions
  1. A moving forward with rapidity and force or eagerness; a violent motion or course; as, a rush of troops; a rush of winds; a rush of water.
    A gentleman of his train spurred up his horse, and, with a violent rush, severed him from the duke. Sir H. Wotton.
  2. Great activity with pressure; as, a rush of business. Colloq.
  3. A perfect recitation. College Cant, U.S.
  4. (Football) (a) A rusher; as, the center rush, whose place is in the center of the rush line; the end rush. now, lineman. (b) The act of running with the ball. rushing.

Webster 1913