Rot
English Meaning
To undergo a process common to organic substances by which they lose the cohesion of their parts and pass through certain chemical changes, giving off usually in some stages of the process more or less offensive odors; to become decomposed by a natural process; to putrefy; to decay.
- To undergo decomposition, especially organic decomposition; decay.
- To become damaged, weakened, or useless because of decay: The beams had rotted away.
- To disappear or fall by decaying: One could see the blackened areas where the branches had rotted off.
- To languish; decline: "He was thrown into one of Napoleon's dungeons and left to rot” ( Michael Massing).
- To decay morally; become degenerate.
- To cause to decompose or decay. See Synonyms at decay.
- The process of rotting or the condition of being rotten: The rot spread quickly, rendering the bridge unsafe even for pedestrians.
- Foot rot.
- See liver fluke.
- Any of several plant diseases characterized by the breakdown of tissue and caused by various bacteria or fungi.
- Pointless talk; nonsense: She always talks such rot.
- Archaic Any disease causing the decay of flesh.
- Used to express annoyance, contempt, or impatience.
