rustling

rustling — noun

1. the soft, light sound that dry things such as leaves, paper, or thin fabric make

1.名詞B1
釋義

the soft, light sound that dry things such as leaves, paper, or thin fabric make when they brush against each other or are moved by the wind

例句

The only sound in the garden was the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze.

collocation: gentle rustling / rustling of leaves

Ayesha heard a faint rustling and turned to see a cat slip through the hedge.

countable: a faint rustling

同義詞
  • whisper

    softer and more breathy; often used for wind or human voices rather than objects

  • crackle

    sharper and more abrupt; suggests a breaking or snapping sound like fire or dry twigs

  • swish

    smoother and more continuous; often describes fabric or liquid moving in one direction

反義詞
  • silence

    complete absence of any sound

  • roar

    a very loud, deep, and powerful sound

文法句型

a rustling (countable)

the rustling of [material] (uncountable)

用法筆記

Often followed by 'of + [material]' to specify the source of the sound. The countable form (a rustling) refers to a single instance or short burst of the sound, while the uncountable form describes the sound in general or a continuous noise.

常見錯誤

❌I could hear the rustling of the wet leaves.
✅I could hear the rustling of the dry leaves.
💡rustling specifically describes the sound of dry, light materials; wet materials make different sounds.
❌The rustling of the loud truck woke me up.
✅The rustling of the paper bag woke me up.
💡rustling is a soft, gentle sound, not a loud one.

2. the crime of secretly taking farm animals such as cattle, sheep, or horses away

2.名詞C1
釋義

the crime of secretly taking farm animals such as cattle, sheep, or horses away from their owner, often by driving them across open land at night

例句

Rustling was common in the area, and farmers worried about their animals at night.

uncountable noun used as sentence subject

The increase in rustling forced local farmers to watch their herds more closely at dusk.

同義詞
  • theft

    a much broader term for taking anything that does not belong to you

  • cattle theft

    more specific — refers only to cows, while rustling can include sheep and horses

文法句型

uncountable noun — used without a/an

often in 'cattle rustling' or 'livestock rustling'

用法筆記

This sense is nearly always uncountable. Typically found in historical, legal, or rural contexts. The person who commits rustling is called a rustler.

常見錯誤

❌There was a rustling of three cows last night.
✅Three cows were taken by rustlers last night.
💡rustling is uncountable and does not take a/an; refer to the crime generally.