rotted

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Related to rotted: decayed

rot

(rŏt)

v. rot·ted, rot·ting, rots

v.intr.

1. To undergo decomposition, especially organic decomposition; decay. See Synonyms at decay.

a. To become damaged, weakened, or useless because of decay: The beams had rotted away.

b. To disappear or fall by decaying: One could see the blackened areas where the branches had rotted off.

3. To deteriorate through neglect or inactivity; languish or decline: "He upset Alice by calling Washington ... a sink of boredom and saying he was rotting there" (John Dos Passos).

4. To decay morally; become degenerate.

v.tr.

To cause to decompose or decay.

1. The process of rotting or the condition of being rotten: The rot spread quickly, rendering the bridge unsafe even for pedestrians.

2. Foot rot.

3. Any of several plant diseases characterized by the breakdown of tissue and caused by various bacteria, fungi, or oomycetes.

4. Pointless talk; nonsense: She always talks such rot.

5. Archaic Any of various diseases causing the decay of flesh.

[Middle English roten, from Old English rotian.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Adj.

rotted - damaged by decay; hence unsound and useless; "rotten floor boards"; "rotted beams"; "a decayed foundation"

decayed, rotten

unsound - not in good condition; damaged or decayed; "an unsound foundation"

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

When we had shaken hands and he was gone, I opened the staircase window and had nearly beheaded myself, for, the lines had rotted away, and it came down like the guillotine.

View in context

And the Americans will spend the money and by the second generation start rotting in the cities, as you and your husband would have rotted if you hadn't got out."

View in context

To that deep charnel-house, where so many human remains and so many crimes have rotted in company, many great ones of this world, many innocent people, have contributed their bones, from Enguerrand de Marigni, the first victim, and a just man, to Admiral de Coligni, who was its last, and who was also a just man.

View in context

But any cartridges or powder there may once have been had rotted into dust.

View in context

And I should have so rotted and died, and not in very long order either, at the pace John Barleycorn was leading me, had the matter depended wholly on him.