gust

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈgəst 

1

obsolete

a

: the sensation of taste

b

: inclination, liking

2

: keen delight

gust

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a sudden brief rush of wind

2

: a sudden outburst : surge

a gust of emotion

gustily

ˈgə-stə-lē 

adverb

gustiness

ˈgə-stē-nəs 

noun

gusty

ˈgə-stē 

adjective

gust

3 of 3

verb

gusted; gusting; gusts

intransitive verb

: to blow in gusts

winds gusting up to 40 mph

Did you know?

Gust Beyond Wind

You're no doubt familiar with the simple gust that means "a brief burst of wind." At least a century and a half before that word first appeared in print in the late 16th century, however, a differently derived homograph came on the scene. The windy gust is probably derived from an Old Norse word gustr, whereas our older featured word (which is now considerably rarer than its look-alike) comes to us through Middle English from gustus, the Latin word for "taste." Gustus gave English another word as well. Gusto (which now usually means "zest" but can also mean "an individual or specific taste") comes to us from gustus by way of Italian.

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• blast
• blow
• flurry
• scud
• williwaw
• windblast

Examples of gust in a Sentence

Noun (2)

a gust tore her umbrella from her grip and blew it down the street

the stressed-out coworker cried out with a gust of emotion that we had never witnessed before

Verb

The forecast calls for winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The storms are packing wind gusts of up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail (1 inch). —Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2024

There are several trees that were burned in the 2020 Bobcat fire that could get knocked down with an especially strong gust. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2024

This is excellent news for kitesurfers coming to Tulum for the ideal weather — but for beachgoers, this can sometimes mean strong gusts and choppy water. —Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2024

The primary concern will be wind gusts near 60 mph. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English guste, from Latin gustus; akin to Latin gustare to taste — more at choose

Noun (2)

probably from Old Norse gustr; akin to Old High German gussa flood, and perhaps to Old English gēotan to pour — more at found

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1813, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

gust

noun

ˈgəst

1

: a sudden brief rush of wind

2

: a sudden outburst

a gust of anger

gusty

ˈgəs-tē

adjective