rust inhibitor
- noun
- /rʌst ɪnˈhɪbɪtər/
- Specialized
:
inhibidor de óxido
- They recommend a rust inhibitor for outdoor metal furniture exposed to the elements.
Examples
-
A rust inhibitor.
-
A rust inhibitor.
Fiction book (2000) -
The mechanic applied a rust inhibitor to the metal parts to prevent corrosion.
-
Using a rust inhibitor can extend the life of your tools and machinery.
Synonyms
46
6.0
A substance that slows down and can stop chemical reactions in the body or in a lab
A product like a spray that stops metal from rusting
How Protective
- Specialized
- Specialized
35
3.4
- Specialized
1
5.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'rust' (the reddish-brown corrosion) with 'inhibitor' (a substance that prevents or slows a reaction), so a rust inhibitor is clearly a substance that prevents rust. This noun+noun compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Rust inhibitor comes from the simple image of a protective coat for metal: the part rust is the red damage that appears on metal and the part inhibitor is something that stops it, so a rust inhibitor acts like a shield or oil that keeps water and air away. That's why it means 'a substance that prevents or slows rust'.