dry rot

¹

noun

1. Plant Pathology.
   1. a decay of seasoned timber, resulting in its becoming brittle and crumbling to a dry powder, caused by various fungi.
   2. any of various diseases of plants in which the rotted tissues are dry.
2. any concealed or unsuspected inner decay.

dry-rot

²

[ drahy-rot ]

verb (used with or without object)

, dry-rot·ted, dry-rot·ting.

1. to undergo or cause to undergo the action or effects of dry rot.

dry rot

noun

1. crumbling and drying of timber, bulbs, potatoes, or fruit, caused by saprotrophic basidiomycetous fungi
2. any fungus causing this decay, esp of the genus Merulius
3. moral degeneration or corrupt practices, esp when previously unsuspected

Word History and Origins

Origin of dry rot¹

First recorded in 1785–95

Origin of dry rot²

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Not far from where she sits, large growths of dry rot fungus are feeding off the floorboards.

From BBC

The wood had badly deteriorated: There was dry rot, termites and water damage.

From Los Angeles Times

Periodically, it has called out for reroofing, repair of dry rot, replacement of aging siding and a new coat of paint.

From Seattle Times

Building inspectors later found that the wooden supports holding up the balcony had been eaten away by dry rot, even though the structure was less than 10 years old.

From New York Times

A later investigation found that joists supporting the deck were suffering from dry rot and had been constructed by a company with a history of complaints.

From BBC

Related Words

• atrophy
• corrode
• decompose
• degenerate
• discolor
• disintegrate
• dissolve
• dwindle
• fade
• get worse
• lessen
• mortify
• pollute
• rot
• shrivel
• wane
• wither