rot

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): [rɑt]

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form rot

Third-person singular rots

Past tense rotted

Past participle rotted

Present participle rotting

1. If something rots it spoils. Rotting is how something turns into dirt (soil) because of bacteria and fungus.
   • Synonyms: decay, spoil and decompose

   We threw out the fruit that rots.

   The police found the rotting body of someone who was killed.

Related words and phrases

• spoiled rotten
• soft rot

Noun

Singular rot

Plural none

1. (uncountable), (informal) Rot is material is decaying (rotting) and has decayed (rotted) a lot already.

   The log was full of rot so it broke easily.

2. (uncountable), (informal) Rot is the act of decaying (rotting).

   We put our food in the freezer to avoid rot.