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   Rot

   /rät/

   

   verb

   • 1. (chiefly of animal or vegetable matter) decay or cause to decay by the action of bacteria and fungi; decompose: "the chalets were neglected and their woodwork was rotting away" Similar decaydecomposedisintegratecrumblebecome rottencorrodeperishgo badgo offspoilgo sourmoldergo moldytaintputrefyfesterbecome gangrenousmortifyrare:necrosesphacelate
   • ▪ gradually deteriorate through lack of attention or opportunity: "he cannot understand the way the education system has been allowed to rot" Similar deterioratedegeneratedeclinedecayfall into decaygo to rack and ruinbecome dilapidatedgo to seedgo downhilllanguishmolderinformal:go to potgo to the dogsgo down the toiletOpposite recoverimprove

   noun

   • 1. the process of decaying: "the leaves were turning black with rot"
   • ▪ rotten or decayed matter: "she was busy cutting the rot from the potatoes"
   • ▪ any of a number of fungal or bacterial diseases that cause tissue deterioration, especially in plants. Similar decaydecompositioncorrosionmoldmoldinessmildewblightcankerputrefactionputrescencewet rotdry rot
   • 2. a process of deterioration; a decline in standards: British "there is enough talent in the team to stop the rot" Similar deteriorationdeclinecorruptioncankercancer
   • ▪ corruption on the part of officials. US
   • 3. nonsense; rubbish: informal British "don't talk rot" Similar nonsensebalderdashgibberishclaptrapblarneyblatherbletherrubbishinformal:hogwashbaloneytripedrivelbilgeboshbullbunkhot aireyewashpifflepoppycockphooeyhooeymalarkeytwaddleguffdribblecobblerscodswallopcockstuff and nonsensetoshhaversgarbageflapdoodleblatherswackbushwaapplesaucebellywashinformal, dated:bunkumtommyrotcodgammonvulgar slang:crapolaOpposite sense

   Word Origin Old Englishrotian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rotten; the noun (Middle English) may have come via Scandinavian.

   Scrabble Points: 3

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