crust

/krʌst/

Origin

From Middle English "cruste," derived from Old French "crouste," ultimately from Latin "crusta" meaning "rind, shell, crust."

Meanings

1. The hard outer layer of bread or pastry.
2. A hard surface layer or coating on something.
3. The outer layer of the Earth.
4. A tough or hardened layer, coating, or surface.

Example Sentences

1. The pizza had a thin, crispy crust.
2. A crust of ice formed on the lake overnight.
3. Geologists study the Earth's crust to understand plate tectonics.
4. The old painting had a crust of dirt and grime.

Related Words

• Forms: crusts (plural), crusted (past tense), crusting (present participle)
• Adjectives: crusty, crustless
• Synonyms: shell, coating, outer layer, rind

Memorization Trick

Think "C-RUST": The Crust is like Rust on bread or the earth—it's the outer layer that forms and hardens.