rat
The definition of a rat is a rodent with a lengthy tail, or is slang for a sneaky person.
(noun)- An example of a rat is a roof rat.
- An example of a rat is a person who plays mean tricks on his coworkers.
Rat is defined as to tease hair, or to hunt for rats, or is slang for betray.
(verb)- An example of rat is to poof the front of the hair.
- An example of rat is for a cat to hunt for rats.
- An example of rat is to tattle on a friend.
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See rat in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- any of numerous long-tailed rodents of various families (esp. Muridae and Cricetidae) resembling, but larger than, the mouse: rats are very destructive pests and carriers of highly contagious diseases, as bubonic plague and typhus
- ☆ a small pad formerly used in certain styles of women's coiffures to make the hair look thicker
- Slang a sneaky, contemptible person; specif.,
- an informer; stool pigeon
- a worker who is a scab
- a person who deserts or betrays a cause
- Slang a person who spends a great deal of time at, in, or on a (specified) place: a gym rat, a mall rat
Origin: ME ratte < OE ræt, akin to Ger ratz, ratte < PGmc *ratto < ? IE base *red-, *rōd-, to scratch, gnaw > L radere, to scrape, rodere, to gnaw
intransitive verb ratted, ratting
- to hunt for rats, esp. with dogs
- Slang
- to desert or betray a cause, movement, etc. as rats are reputed to desert a sinking ship
- to act as a stool pigeon; inform (on)
transitive verb
to tease (the hair)
See rat in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- a. Any of various long-tailed rodents resembling mice but larger, especially one of the genus Rattus.b. Any of various animals similar to one of these long-tailed rodents.
- Slang a. A despicable person, especially one who betrays or informs upon associates.b. A scab laborer.
- A pad of material, typically hair, worn as part of a woman's coiffure to puff out her own hair.
- To hunt for or catch rats, especially with the aid of dogs.
- Slang To betray one's associates by giving information: ratted on his best friend to the police.
- Slang To work as a scab laborer.
To puff out (the hair) with or as if with a pad of material.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English
Origin: , from Old English rǽt; see rēd- in Indo-European roots
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