rot

[ rot ]

/ rɒt /

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See synonyms for rot on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), rot·ted, rot·ting.

to undergo decomposition; decay.

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

to languish, as in confinement.

to become morally corrupt or offensive.

verb (used with object), rot·ted, rot·ting.

to cause to rot: Dampness rots wood.

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

to ret (flax, hemp, etc.).

noun

the process of rotting.

the state of being rotten; decay; putrefaction: the rot of an old house.

rotting or rotten matter: the rot and waste of a swamp.

moral or social decay or corruption.

Pathology. any disease characterized by decay.

Plant Pathology.

any of various forms of decay produced by fungi or bacteria.
any disease so characterized.

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.

nonsense.

interjection

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

OTHER WORDS FOR rot

1 mold, molder, putrefy, spoil.

9 decomposition, mold.

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OPPOSITES FOR rot

4, 6 purify.

See antonyms for rot on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of rot

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.); cf. ret, rotten)

synonym study for rot

1. See decay.

OTHER WORDS FROM rot

half-rotted, adjectiveun·rot·ted, adjective

Words nearby rot

Roswitha, rosy, rosy finch, rosy pastor, Roszak, rot, rota, rota bed, rotachute, rotameter, rotan

Other definitions for rot (2 of 3)

ROT

rule of thumb.

Other definitions for rot (3 of 3)

rot.

abbreviation

rotating.

rotation.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rot in a sentence

After hearing her story, he inspected the steps and noticed signs of rot.
In our dreams, a theater of the unconscious|Nick Romeo|January 22, 2021|Washington Post
And so the same creeping rot of the rule of law that the administration has inflicted on immigration now bedevils our drug laws.
Obama’s Pot Policy Is Refer Madness|James Poulos|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
So Little Snow White lay in the coffin for a long, long time but did not rot.
In New Brothers Grimm 'Snow White', The Prince Doesn't Save Her|The Brothers Grimm|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gary has been broken for a while, and it looks like much of it has been left to rot.
Gary, Indiana Is a Serial Killer’s Playground|Justin Glawe|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And the willingness to dump on British women in the name of Sharia law is a rot that runs up and down the length of society.
How Britain Made James Foley's Killer|Louise Mensch|August 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As ever, he talked too big (it was an election year) about withdrawing from Iraq with honor and all that rot.
GOP Iraq Hypocrisy Hits Overdrive|Michael Tomasky|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some of the cut grass looks as if it were Flax spread out to rot, and all of it evinces a want of shelter.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
He hath chosen strong wood, and that will not rot: the skilful workman seeketh how he may set up an idol that may not be moved.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
As for Homer Smith, his carcase might rot in the desert of Arizona, or anywhere, for aught he cared.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
When your letters are disbelieved 403 it makes you angry, and that is rot; and I wish I could keep out of it with all my soul.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
Them's the very words I said; they all heard me; and the country may rot for all me—I'll never vote agin as long as I live.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Complete|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

British Dictionary definitions for rot (1 of 2)

rot¹

/ (rɒt) /

verb rots, rotting or rotted

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

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

(intr) to become weak, debilitated, or depressed through inertia, confinement, etc; languishrotting in prison

to become or cause to become morally corrupt or degenerate

(tr) textiles another word for ret

noun

the process of rotting or the state of being rotten

something decomposed, disintegrated, or degenerateRelated adjective: putrid

short for dry rot

pathol any putrefactive decomposition of tissues

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

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

(also interjection) nonsense; rubbish

Word Origin for rot

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

British Dictionary definitions for rot (2 of 2)

rot²

abbreviation for

rotation (of a mathematical function)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for rot

rot

[ rŏt ]

Verb

To undergo decomposition, especially organic decomposition; decay.

Noun

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