Rot \Rot\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rotting.]

[OE. rotien, AS. rotian; akin to D. rotten, Prov. G. rotten, OHG. rozz?n, G. r["o]sten to steep flax, Icel. rotna to rot, Sw. ruttna, Dan. raadne, Icel. rottin rotten. [root]117. Cf. Ret, Rotten.]

1. To undergo a process common to organic substances by which they lose the cohesion of their parts and pass through certain chemical changes, giving off usually in some stages of the process more or less offensive odors; to become decomposed by a natural process; to putrefy; to decay.

Fixed like a plant on his peculiar spot, To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot. --Pope.

2. Figuratively: To perish slowly; to decay; to die; to become corrupt.

Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons. --Macaulay.

Rot, poor bachelor, in your club. --Thackeray.

Syn: To putrefy; corrupt; decay; spoil.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)