rot

¹

[rot]

verb (used without object)

rotted, rotting 

1. to undergo decomposition; decay.

   Synonyms: spoil, putrefy, molder, mold

2. to deteriorate, disintegrate, fall, or become weak due to decay (often followed by away, from, off, etc.).

3. to languish, as in confinement.

4. to become morally corrupt or offensive.

   Antonyms: purify

verb (used with object)

rotted, rotting 

1. to cause to rot.

   Dampness rots wood.

2. to cause moral decay in; cause to become morally corrupt.

   Antonyms: purify

3. to ret (flax, hemp, etc.).

noun

1. the process of rotting.

2. the state of being rotten; decay; putrefaction.

   the rot of an old house.

   Synonyms: mold, decomposition

3. rotting or rotten matter.

   the rot and waste of a swamp.

4. moral or social decay or corruption.

5. Pathology.,  any disease characterized by decay.

6. Plant Pathology.

   1. any of various forms of decay produced by fungi or bacteria.

   2. any disease so characterized.

7. Veterinary Pathology.,  a bacterial infection of sheep and cattle characterized by decay of the hoofs, caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum in cattle and Bacteroides nodosus in sheep.

8. nonsense.

interjection

1. (used to express disagreement, distaste, or disgust.)

ROT

²

1. rule of thumb.

rot.

³

abbreviation

1. rotating.

2. rotation.

rot

¹

/ rɒt /

verb

1. to decay or cause to decay as a result of bacterial or fungal action

2. (intr; usually foll by off or away) to fall or crumble (off) or break (away), as from natural decay, corrosive action, or long use

3. (intr) to become weak, debilitated, or depressed through inertia, confinement, etc; languish

   rotting in prison

4. to become or cause to become morally corrupt or degenerate

5. (tr) textiles another word for ret

noun

1. the process of rotting or the state of being rotten

2. something decomposed, disintegrated, or degenerate

3. short for dry rot

4. pathol any putrefactive decomposition of tissues

5. a condition in plants characterized by breakdown and decay of tissues, caused by bacteria, fungi, etc

6. vet science a contagious fungal disease of the feet of sheep characterized by inflammation, swelling, a foul-smelling discharge, and lameness

7. (also interjection) nonsense; rubbish

rot

²

abbreviation

1. rotation (of a mathematical function)

rot

1. To undergo decomposition, especially organic decomposition; decay.

1. Any of several plant diseases characterized by the breakdown of tissue and caused by various bacteria or fungi.

Other Word Forms

• half-rotted adjective
• unrotted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rot¹

before 900; (v.) Middle English rot ( t ) en, Old English rotian, cognate with Frisian rotsje, Dutch rotten; (noun) Middle English, perhaps < Old Norse rot (perhaps partly derivative of the v.); ret, rotten )

Word History and Origins

Origin of rot¹

Old English rotian (vb); related to Old Norse rotna . C13 (noun), from Scandinavian

Synonym Study

See decay.

Example Sentences

Armed with a shovel and a pair of gloves, he began searching through rotting grass clippings and food scraps on 15 August for traces of the movie theatre popcorn.

From BBC

The rot set in after Beijing brought in new rules in 2020 to control the amount big developers could borrow.

From BBC

The Fox News effect might go a short distance in explaining the rot of our democracy, but it is more likely a symptom of decay rather than the primary cause.

From Salon

"The hostages have been rotting in the tunnels and the British government haven't been putting pressure on Hamas," said Daniel, another protester.

From BBC

"The heat is unbearable. The food keeps rotting and the children don't stop crying. At night, we try to sleep outside but then mosquitoes bite us," said Baijan Bibi.

From BBC

Related Words

• break down 
• crumble 
• decay 
• decompose 
• disintegrate 
• languish 
• molder 
• perish 
• spoil 
• stain 
• warp 
• wither