Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

rot

/ɹɑt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.70 in modern English

Syllables
rot
IPA
/ɹɑt/
3
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To suffer decomposition due to biological action, especially by fungi or bacteria.

Intransitive verb

verb

To decline in function or utility.

Intransitive verb

verb

To (cause to) deteriorate in any way, as in morals; to corrupt.

verb

To make putrid; to cause to be wholly or partially decomposed by natural processes.

Transitive verb

verb

To spend a long period of time (in an unpleasant place or state).

Intransitive verb

verb

To expose, as flax, to a process of maceration, etc., for the purpose of separating the fiber; to ret.

Transitive verb

verb

To talk nonsense.

Dated; Slang

verb

Damn; blast.

Slang; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

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”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: roten, rotian, *rotēn, *rutāną

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ɹɑt/
  • British English: /ɹɒt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

rots (present, singular) rotting (participle, present) rotted (participle, past) rotted (past) rots (plural)

Derived Forms

brainrot heartrot hoofrot linkrot rotgut rotproof rotsome rottable woodrot

Phrases

Alabama rot Armillaria root rot Barcoo rot bed rot bit rot bitter rot black rot brain rot

Frequently Paired Words

IOP IOA

Synonyms

putrefy molder ROA bunk bunkum buncombe guff hogwash

Homonyms

wrought (cot–caught merger)

Rhymes With

not got lot shot hot bought caught spot scott forgot plot pot

Questions

How do you pronounce rot?
The recorded pronunciation is /ɹɑt/.
What does rot mean?
To suffer decomposition due to biological action, especially by fungi or bacteria.
Where does rot come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce rot

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “rot”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɹɑt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “rot”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “rot” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.