Rot Meaning
/ɹɒt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo suffer decomposition due to biological action, especially by fungi or bacteria.
verbTo decline in function or utility.
Sentence Examples
Fruits tend to rot quickly.
Put the meat in the refrigerator, or it will rot.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
If you leave the fruit in the sun too long, it will begin to ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The wooden fence posts began to ____ after years of exposure to rain and moisture.
Word Origin & History
Inherited from Middle English roten, rotten, from Old English rotian (“to rot, become corrupted, ulcerate, putrefy”), from Proto-West Germanic *rotēn, from Proto-Germanic *rutāną (“to rot”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Fix'd like a plant on his peculiar spot, / To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot."
— 1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], (please specify |epistle=I to IV), London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC:
"Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons."
— 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
"Rot, poor bachelor, in your club."
— 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, The Book of Snobs:
"“Did they hang you well?” said Porson.
“Don’t rot,” said Mr Watkins; “I don’t like it.”"
— 1894, H. G. Wells, The Hammerpond Park Burglary:
"Adrian thought it worth while to try out his new slang. ‘I say, you fellows, here's a rum go. Old Biffo was jolly odd this morning. He gave me a lot of pi-jaw about slacking and then invited me to tea. No rotting! He did really.’"
— 1991, Stephen Fry, chapter III, in The Liar, London: William Heinemann, →ISBN, page 26:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
If you leave the fruit in the sun too long, it will begin to ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The wooden fence posts began to ____ after years of exposure to rain and moisture.