v. & n.
v. 1 intr. go, move, or act precipitately or with great speed. 2 tr. move or transport with great haste (was rushed to hospital). 3 intr. (foll. by at) a move suddenly and quickly towards. b begin impetuously. 4 tr. perform or deal with hurriedly (don't rush your dinner; the bill was rushed through Parliament). 5 tr. force (a person) to act hastily. 6 tr. attack or capture by sudden assault. 7 tr. sl. overcharge (a customer). 8 tr. US pay attentions to (a person) with a view to securing acceptance of a proposal. 9 tr. pass (an obstacle) with a rapid dash. 10 intr. flow, fall, spread, or roll impetuously or fast (felt the blood rush to my face; the river rushes past).
n. 1 an act of rushing; a violent advance or attack. 2 a period of great activity. 3 (attrib.) done with great haste or speed (a rush job). 4 a sudden migration of large numbers. 5 (foll. by on, for) a sudden strong demand for a commodity. 6 (in pl.) colloq. the first prints of a film after a period of shooting. 7 Football a a combined dash by several players with the ball. b US the act of carrying the ball. rush one's fences act with undue haste. rush hour a time each day when traffic is at its heaviest. rusher n. rushingly adv.
[ ME f. AF russher, = OF ruser, russer: see RUSE ]