dry-rot

1 of 2

verb

ˈdrī-ˌrät 

dry-rotted; dry-rotting; dry-rots

transitive verb

: to affect with dry rot

intransitive verb

: to become affected with dry rot

dry rot

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a decay of seasoned timber caused by fungi that consume the cellulose of wood leaving a soft skeleton which is readily reduced to powder

b

: a fungal rot of plant tissue in which the affected areas are dry and often firmer than normal or more or less mummified

2

: a fungus causing dry rot

3

: decay from within caused especially by resistance to new forces

Examples of dry-rot in a Sentence

Noun

The windowsill was badly damaged by dry rot.

Dry rot had eaten away part of the beam.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ravaged by dry rot, entire sections of the building were taken apart stone by stone and rebuilt. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 28 June 2025

The project underway at the Adult Softball Complex began with demolishing a set of stairs outside the 800-square-foot building because of dry rot. —Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025

To prevent dry rot, experts from Stone & Clark recommend: Storing shoes in a cool, dry place. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025

Wipers can dry rot, and the rubber becomes hard and brittle. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1870, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for dry-rot

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

dry rot

noun

: decay of dried timber in which the cellulose of wood is used for food by fungi leaving a soft skeleton that easily crumbles to powder