Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - rush

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English rysc; akin to Middle High German rusch ~, Lithuanian regzti to knit  Date: before 12th century any of various monocotyledonous often tufted marsh plants (as of the genera Juncus and Luzula of the family Juncaceae, the ~ family) with cylindrical often hollow stems which are used in bottoming chairs and plaiting mats  • ~y adjective  II. verb  Etymology: Middle English russhen, from Anglo-French reuser, ruser, russher to drive back, repulse, from Latin recusare to oppose — more at recusant  Date: 14th century  intransitive verb  1. to move forward, progress, or act with haste or eagerness or without preparation  2. to advance a football by running plays ~ed for a total of 150 yards  transitive verb  1. to push or impel on or forward with speed, impetuosity, or violence  2. to perform in a short time or at high speed  3. to urge to an unnatural or extreme speed don't ~ me  4. to run toward or against in attack ; charge  5.  a. to carry (a ball) forward in a running play  b. to move in quickly on (a kicker or passer) to hinder, prevent, or block a kick or pass — used especially of defensive linemen  6.  a. to lavish attention on ; court  b. to try to secure a pledge of membership (as in a fraternity) from  III. noun  Date: 14th century  1.  a. a violent forward motion  b. attack, onset  c. a surging of emotion  2.  a. a burst of activity, productivity, or speed  b. a sudden insistent demand  3. a thronging of people usually to a new place in search of wealth a gold ~  4.  a. the act of carrying a football during a game ; running play  b. the action or an instance of ~ing a passer or kicker in football a pass ~  5.  a. a round of attention usually involving extensive social activity  b. a drive by a fraternity or sorority to recruit new members  6. a print of a motion-picture scene processed directly after the shooting for review by the director or producer — usually used in plural  7.  a. the immediate pleasurable feeling produced by a drug (as heroin or amphetamine) — called also flash  b. a sudden feeling of intense pleasure or euphoria ; thrill  IV. adjective  Date: 1879 requiring or marked by special speed or urgency ~ orders the ~ season a ~ job RUSH  I. biographical name Benjamin 1745-1813 American physician & patriot  II. biographical name Richard 1780-1859 son of preceding American diplomat & statesman