Rot is a plural noun meaning decay or decomposition, especially of organic matter. It can also refer to a process of spoilage due to fungal or bacterial action. In horticulture or pathology contexts, rot describes moisture-related tissue breakdown; in a moral or figurative sense, it sometimes signifies corruption or deterioration.
"The fruit showed visible rot along the peel."
"In the garden, avoid standing water to prevent root rot."
"Experts warned that prolonged moisture could accelerate rot in the wooden beams."
"The company faced rot in its reputation after the scandal."
Rot comes from the Old English word rotian, which meant to rot or become rotten. It is related to Old High German rozzan and Dutch rotten, all tied to the Proto-Germanic root rot- meaning decay. The concept of rot has been present in English since early medieval times, originally describing the decay of organic matter, especially food and timber. Over centuries, rot broadened to include figurative decay—moral rot or rot in reputations. The spelling and pronunciation consolidated through Middle English into the modern form rot, retaining the short vowel sound and the t ending. The term is etymologically linked to other Germanic languages where similar roots denote decay processes, and it consistently retains the sense of breakdown caused by moisture, micro-organisms, or structural failure. First known uses in Old English texts appear around the 9th to 12th centuries, with later literary instances in medieval and early modern English literature describing rotting fruits, bones, or timber and later expanding to abstract degeneration.
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Words that rhyme with "Rot"
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Pronounce as one syllable with the short /ɒ/ vowel in British and Australian accents, and /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ depending on the speaker in American varieties. IPA: US /ɹɑt/ or /rɑt/, UK /rɒt/, AU /ɹɒt/. Start with an open back vowel, then a crisp /t/ at the end. The mouth opens slightly, the tongue sits low-mid back, and the lips stay neutral. A brief, released /t/ finishes the word. Practicing with a quick, clean stop will help avoid adding a vowel after the t.
Common errors include using a long vowel like /ɜː/ or /oʊ/ instead of the short /ɒ/ or /ɑ/. Another mistake is a voiceless but aspirated final consonant or an unreleased stop. To correct: keep the vowel short and relaxed, avoid adding a schwa before the final /t/, and finish with a crisp, unreleased or lightly released /t/ depending on dialect. Use a tight but efficient mouth posture: jaw lowered, tongue flat, tip barely touching the alveolar ridge.
US: /ɹɑt/ with rhotic initial, potentially slightly more open /ɑ/ depending on region. UK: /rɒt/ with non-rhotic or rhotacized r depending on speaker, short rounded back /ɒ/. Australia: /ɹɒt/ similar to UK but with flatter vowel and less rhoticity in some dialects. Vowel quality varies: American often closer to /ɑ/ (open back), British/Australian tend toward /ɒ/ (open back rounded). Final /t/ remains unreleased in many casual US speech and often aspirated in careful speech. Stress remains on the single syllable.
The difficulty lies in producing the short, lax back vowel correctly and the crisp, short final /t/. In many dialects, the /t/ can be unreleased or flapped in casual speech, which changes the perception. Additionally, distinguishing /ɒ/ in British English from /ɑ/ in American English can be subtle but affects perceived correctness. For non-native speakers, controlling lip rounding and jaw position for the /ɒ/ vs /ɑ/ distinction is key, as is avoiding a post-consonantal vowel.
No silent letters here. All letters are pronounced in careful speech. The initial 'R' is pronounced, the middle 'o' is a short vowel, and the final 't' is a consonant that can be released or unreleased depending on dialect. The challenge is not silent letters but correct vowel articulation and final stop release. In some dialects, the /t/ can be barely audible, so you should practice a clear but quick release.
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