v., n., & int.
v. (rotted, rotting) 1 intr. a (of animal or vegetable matter) lose its original form by the chemical action of bacteria, fungi, etc.; decay. b (foll. by off, away) crumble or drop from a stem etc. through decomposition. 2 intr. a (of society, institutions, etc.) gradually perish from lack of vigour or use. b (of a prisoner etc.) waste away (left to rot in prison); (of a person) languish. 3 tr. cause to rot, make rotten. 4 tr. Brit. sl. tease, abuse, denigrate. 5 intr. Brit. sl. joke.
n. 1 the process or state of rotting. 2 sl. nonsense; an absurd or foolish statement, argument, or proposal. 3 a sudden series of (usu. unaccountable) failures; a rapid decline in standards etc. (a rot set in; we must try to stop the rot). 4 (often prec. by the) a virulent liver-disease of sheep.
int. expressing incredulity or ridicule. rot-gut sl. cheap harmful alcoholic liquor.
[ OE rotian (v.): (n.) ME, perh. f. Scand.: cf. Icel., Norw. rot ]