rot

¹rot

verb \ˈrät\

rot·tedrot·ting

Definition of ROT

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

Examples of ROT

1. The wood had rotted away.
2. The apples were left to rot.
3. the smell of rotting garbage
4. Eating too much candy can rot your teeth.

Origin of ROT

Middle English roten, from Old English rotian; akin to Old High German rōzzēn to rot

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to ROT

Synonyms: atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, deteriorate, sink, worsen

Antonyms: ameliorate, improve, meliorate

Related Words: abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane; break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy; sour, spoil; lessen, lower, reduce; debilitate, undermine; droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt

Near Antonyms: better, upgrade; enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen; advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at decay

Rhymes with ROT

aught, baht, blot, bot, clot, cot, dot, ghat, grot, hot, jot, khat, knot, kyat, lot, lotte, Mott, motte, naught, not, plot, pot, scot, Scot, shot, skat, slot, snot, sot, spot, squat, stot, swat, swot, tot, trot, watt, Watt, what, wot, yacht