rustle

UK: /ˈrʌs^əl/ US: /ˈrʌsəl/ ,(rus′əl)

Inflections of 'rustle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

rustles

v 3rd person singular

rustling

v pres p

rustled

v past

rustled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rus•tle /ˈrʌsəl/   v., -tled, -tling, n. 
v. 

1. to make the slight, soft sounds of gentle rubbing, as leaves: [no object]
   The leaves of autumn rustled.
   [~ + object]
   They rustled the leaves as they walked through the woods.
2. [~ + object] to steal (livestock, esp. cattle).
3. rustle up, [Informal.] to put together by effort or search: [~ + up + object]
   to rustle up some lunch from leftovers.
   [~ + object + up]
   to rustle something up for lunch.

n. [countable]

4. the sound made by anything that rustles.

rus•tler, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rus•tle  (rus′əl), v., -tled, -tling, n. 
v.i. 

1. to make a succession of slight, soft sounds, as of parts rubbing gently one on another, as leaves, silks, or papers.
2. to cause such sounds by moving or stirring something.
3. to move, proceed, or work energetically:
   Rustle around and see what you can find.

v.t. 

4. to move or stir so as to cause a rustling sound:
   The wind rustled the leaves.
5. to move, bring, or get by energetic action:
   I'll go rustle some supper.
6. to steal (livestock, esp. cattle).
7. rustle up, [Informal.] to find, gather, or assemble by effort or search:
   to rustle up some wood for a fire.

n. 

8. the sound made by anything that rustles:
   the rustle of leaves.

• 1350–1400; Middle English rustlen (verb, verbal); compare Frisian russelje, Dutch ridselen; of imitative origin, originally

rus′tling•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rustle / ˈrʌs^əl/ verb

1. to make or cause to make a low crisp whispering or rubbing sound, as of dry leaves or paper
2. to move with such a sound

noun

1. such a sound or sounds

Etymology: Old English hrūxlian; related to Gothic hrukjan to crow², Old Norse hraukr raven, crow¹

rustle / ˈrʌs^əl/ verb

1. to steal (cattle, horses, etc)
2. to move swiftly and energetically

Etymology: 19th Century: probably special use of rustle¹ (in the sense: to move with quiet sound)