rot

/rɑt/

/rɒt/

Other forms: rotting; rotted; rots

To rot is to decompose, or break down into smaller parts. When old food at the back of your refrigerator rots, you should throw it away.

Sometimes you can tell when something is beginning to rot because it smells bad. But the process that occurs when things rot is a natural one that you can see all around you as you walk through the woods or along the beach. Living organisms have to rot after they die, to make room for more organisms.

Definitions of rot

1. verb

   break down
   synonyms: decompose, molder, moulder

   types:

   biodegrade

   break down naturally through the action of biological agents

   hang

   suspend (meat) in order to get a gamey taste

   type of:

   decay, degrade

   undergo decay or decomposition
2. verb

   become physically weaker
   synonyms: waste

   types:

   gangrene, mortify, necrose, sphacelate

   undergo necrosis

   type of:

   degenerate, deteriorate, devolve, drop

   grow worse
3. noun

   a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor
   synonyms: putrefaction

   types:

   corruption, putrescence, putridness, rottenness

   a state of progressive putrefaction

   type of:

   decay

   an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying
4. noun

   (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
   synonyms: decomposition, putrefaction, rotting

   type of:

   decay

   the process of gradually becoming inferior
5. noun

   unacceptable behavior (especially ludicrously false statements)
   synonyms: buncombe, bunk, bunkum, guff, hogwash

   types:

   bull

   obscene words for unacceptable behavior

   type of:

   drivel, garbage

   a worthless message