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”).
To suffer decomposition due to biological action, especially by fungi or bacteria.
The apple left in the cupboard all that time had started to rot.
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:
2
To decline in function or utility.
Your brain will rot if you spend so much time on the computer, Tony!
3
Ambitransitive To (cause to) deteriorate in any way, as in morals; to corrupt.
4
To make putrid; to cause to be wholly or partially decomposed by natural processes.
to rot vegetable fiber
5
Figuratively To spend a long period of time (in an unpleasant place or state).
to rot in prison
to rot in Hell
3 more examples
If I hadn't rotted in bed all day I would've come...
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:
6
To expose, as flax, to a process of maceration, etc., for the purpose of separating the fiber; to ret.
“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:
"Oh rot yer!" exclaimed Fank, with a sudden flare of passion that at least carried with it the dignity of a genuine emotion; "I've had just abart enough of you and your blinkin' game, Toady Joolby. Here, I'd sooner smash the bloody thing, straight, than be such a ruddy mug as to swallow any of your blahsted promises […]"1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
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”).
1
The process of becoming rotten; putrefaction.
2
Decaying matter.
When a turkey vulture detects the scent of rot, it circles down, tracing the plume of chemicals to its source.2016, Nathanael Johnson, Unseen City, →ISBN, page 115:
3
In compounds Any of several diseases in which breakdown of tissue occurs.
His cattle must of rot and murrain die.1658–1663, John Milton, Paradise Lost: