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

A crust of conoidical shells covered the rock at certain points, the dry rot of the granite.

From Project Gutenberg

The Spanish War had done more than give straps to a lot of civilians with pulls; it had eradicated the dry-rot from the Army.

From Project Gutenberg

It is infested by the dry rot, and ready to tumble about our ears without their immediate help.

From Project Gutenberg

I have what goes with all artist-matter—long periods of dry-rot when having nothing ripe to write I write nothing.

From Project Gutenberg

Next to dry rot and vermin, a tenant with “a tongue” is the greatest enemy of the landlord of mean streets.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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