Definition of rot - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
decompositionundergo decomposition by bacteria or fungi
- The fruit will rot if left outside.
2.
deteriorationdecline in function or utility over time
- The old factory began to rot after years of neglect.
3.
- He felt like he was rotting in the small town.
4.
cause decompositiontr. cause something to decompose naturallytr.
- The damp conditions will rot the wooden beams.
5.
moral decayDated become morally corrupt or degenerateDated
- The society seemed to rot from within.
6.
flax processingtr. Rare expose flax to separate the fibertr. Rare
- Farmers used to rot flax to make linen.
Noun
1.
- He dismissed the rumors as nothing but rot.
2.
biologyprocess of decay or decomposition
- The rot in the wood was extensive.
3.
deteriorationgradual decline in quality or condition
- The rot set in after the manager left.
4.
plant diseaseTECH. disease causing tissue breakdownTECH.
- The crop was affected by rot.
Images of rot

gradual decline in quality or condition
Expressions with rot
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mental decline due to excessive media consumption
Watching too much TV can lead to brain rot.
pain or discomfort in the stomach
After eating too much candy, I had gut rot.
neglected and deteriorating over time
The car was left to rot in the garage.
acting to prevent decline or damage
We need to fix the roof before the rot sets in.
make someone less able to think clearly
Constant tabloid gossip will eventually rot his brain.
take action to fix a problem before it gets worse
We need to stop the rot before the entire project fails.
allow someone to suffer without help or support
He decided to let his enemy rot in jail.
become completely decayed or corrupted
The old house had rotted to the core after years of neglect.
suffer eternal punishment or severe consequences
He betrayed us, so may he rot in hell.
deteriorate due to neglect or lack of use
The abandoned house started to rot away.
neglect or abandon something
She chose to let it rot instead of fixing it.
spend a long time suffering in prison
He was sentenced to rot in prison for his crimes.
decay of vegetation in dense, wet forests
The jungle rot contributes to the nutrient-rich soil in rainforests..
decay of wood caused by fungi
The old barn collapsed due to extensive dry rot..
decay of timber by moisture-loving fungi
Wet rot weakened the wooden beams in the attic.
plant roots decaying from fungi or too much water
Root rot can kill plants if not treated quickly.
plant disease causing blackened, rotting roots
The garden suffered from black root rot this summer.
disease causing darkening and decay of vegetable leaves
Farmers are concerned about black rot in their crops.
fungal disease of stone fruit like peaches
The peaches were ruined by brown rot.
disease in livestock causing hoof decay
The farmer treated the sheep for foot rot to prevent further spread..
infestation of the liver by parasitic flukes
The sheep suffered from liver rot due to fluke infestation.
fungus that causes grapes to become sweeter for wine
Noble rot makes the grapes much sweeter for dessert wine.
chemical process in brass leaving fragile copper
The old brass instruments showed signs of red rot.
potato tuber illness from Clavibacter michiganensis, leaving circular internal breakdown
Ring rot ruined the seed potatoes, so the farmer rejected the whole lot.
Origin of rot
Old English, rotian (to decay)
Terms with rot included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
food
spoil or rot due to age or conditions
organic matter
undergoing decomposition or rot
tooth care
small high-speed device for oral work, removing rot and shaping enamel
decay
touched by rot or decay
biology
rot or decay through bacterial action
decaying
undergoing decay or rot
preservation
sprinkle a yellow powder on crops to prevent rot
food
spoil or rot, becoming sour in taste
plant disease
fungal disease causing roots to rot and blacken
medical
having bone decay or rot
food
liable to spoil or rot over time
edible or pathogen
honey-colored mushroom eaten as food or causing tree root rot
acr: pressure-treated
wood treated to resist rot and insects
decay
able to rot, spoil, or break down naturally
induce decay
cause to rot or decompose
biology decay
able to rot or decay, especially in organic matter
decay
in a state of decay or rot
agriculture
disease causing the base of plant stems to rot
Examples of rot in a sentence
The old wood started to rot in the damp basement. The wooden beams began to rot in the damp cellar. The abandoned ship started to rot at the harbor. She felt like she was rotting in her dead-end job. He was rotting in the forgotten prison cell. Standing water can rot the fence posts.
Leaving fruit in the heat will rot it quickly. Power can rot even the most virtuous individuals. Unchecked greed will rot the company's values. They rot the flax in water for several days. To rot flax properly, timing is essential. She laughed at the rot he was spouting. All that talk about ghosts is just rot. The rot spread through the fallen leaves. Farmers must prevent rot in stored crops. The rot in the old house was extensive. Financial rot can ruin a successful business. Rot spread quickly through the stored potatoes. The gardener was concerned about rot in the roses.
View all translations of rot
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:pourrir, balivernes, ...
- German:verrotten, Unsinn, ...
- Italian:marcire, fesserie, ...
- Spanish:pudrirse, tonterías, ...
- Portuguese:apodrecer, asneira, ...
- Chinese:腐烂, 胡说, ...
- Japanese:腐る, ナンセンス, ...
- Arabic:تَعَفَّنَ, هراء, ...
- Hebrew:לְהֵירָקֵב, שְׁטוּיוֹת, ...
- Russian:гнить, чепуха, ...
- Ukrainian:гнити, нісенітниця, ...
- Hindi:सड़ना, बकवास, ...
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