rot

¹

[ rot ]

verb (used without object)

, rot·ted, rot·ting.

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)

, rot·ted, rot·ting.

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 for

1. rotating.
2. rotation.

rot

¹

abbreviation for

1. rotation (of a mathematical function)

rot

²

/ 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 putrid
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

/ rŏt /

Verb

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

Noun

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

Other Words From

• half-rotted adjective
• un·rotted 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

He embodies that seething, alienated rage of people who feel like they’ve been left to rot in the dark corners of the country, unseen, unheard and hopeless for far too long.

From Salon

As chair of the House of Representatives’ Republican conference, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York appointed herself an official alarmist about antisemitism by spearheading a Dec. 5, 2023, committee hearing on what she called “the rot of antisemitism” in student protests against the war in Gaza.

From Salon

And in space, wood is tougher than on Earth, since there’s no water to make it rot or oxygen that would allow it to burn.

From NewsForKids.net

And what role had the members of the mainstream establishment—people like him, the reasonable Republicans—played in allowing the rot on the right to fester?

From Slate

“And I think that was the beginning of the rot, which we are paying a price for till today.”

From Salon

Related Words

• blight
• decay
• decomposition
• deterioration