n.
Pronunciation: ' rät
Function: verb
Inflected Form: rot · ted ; rot · ting
Etymology: Middle English roten, from Old English rotian; akin to Old High German r ō zz ē n to rot
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1 a : to undergo decomposition from the action of bacteria or fungi b : to become unsound or weak (as from use or chemical action)
2 a : to go to ruin : DETERIORATE b : to become morally corrupt : DEGENERATE
transitive verb : to cause to decompose or deteriorate with or as if with rot
synonyms see DECAY