Standard Lemma guide

encrust

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ɪŋˈkɹʌst/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌst
  • CMU ARPABET: EH0 N K R AH1 S T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To cover with a hard crust.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • iron encrusted with rust
  • a doughnut encrusted with sugar

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To form a crust.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To inset or affix decorative materials upon (a surface); to inlay into, as a piece of carving or other ornamental object.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The jeweller encrusted the ring with gems.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

form a crust or a hard layer

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: incrust

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: harden, indurate

Narrower terms: effloresce

5

verb

Meaning 5

cover or coat with a crust

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: incrust

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: coat, surface

6

verb

Meaning 6

decorate or cover lavishly (as with gems)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: incrust, beset

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: decorate, adorn, grace, ornament, embellish, beautify

History

Etymology

From French incruster, from Latin incrustare, from in- (“in”) + crustare (“to cover with a crust”). By surface analysis, en- + crust.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: хващам кора (hvaštam kora) — to cover with a hard crust
  • Catalan: incrustar — to cover with a hard crust
  • French: encroûter — to cover with a hard crust
  • French: encrouter — to cover with a hard crust
  • German: überkrusten — to cover with a hard crust
  • German: verkrusten — to cover with a hard crust
  • Latin: incrustō — to cover with a hard crust
  • Norwegian: skjerpe — to cover with a hard crust
  • Norwegian: brune — to cover with a hard crust
  • Spanish: incrustar — to cover with a hard crust
  • German: verkrusten — to form a crust
  • Bulgarian: инкрустирам (inkrustiram) — to inset or affix decorative material
  • Catalan: incrustar — to inset or affix decorative material
  • French: incruster — to inset or affix decorative material
  • Hungarian: kiver — to inset or affix decorative material