/ rɒt; NAmE rɑːt/ verb , noun
■ verb
( -tt- ) to decay, or make sth decay, naturally and gradually
SYN decompose :
[ v ]
rotting leaves
The window frame had rotted away completely.
( figurative )
prisoners thrown in jail and left to rot
[ vn ]
Too much sugar will rot your teeth.
—see also rotten
■ noun [ U ]
1.
the process or state of decaying and falling apart :
The wood must not get damp as rot can quickly result.
—see also dry rot , wet rot
2.
the rot used to describe the fact that a situation is getting worse :
The rot set in last year when they reorganized the department.
The team should manage to stop the rot if they play well this week.
3.
( old-fashioned , BrE ) nonsense; silly things that sb says
SYN rubbish :
Don't talk such rot!
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English rotian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rotten ; the noun ( Middle English ) may have come via Scandinavian .