rat

The definition of a rat is a rodent with a lengthy tail, or is slang for a sneaky person.

(noun)

  1. An example of a rat is a roof rat.
  2. 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)

  1. An example of rat is to poof the front of the hair.
  2. An example of rat is for a cat to hunt for rats.
  3. An example of rat is to tattle on a friend.

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See rat in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. 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
  2. ☆ a small pad formerly used in certain styles of women's coiffures to make the hair look thicker
  3. Slang a sneaky, contemptible person; specif.,
    1. an informer; stool pigeon
    2. a worker who is a scab
    3. a person who deserts or betrays a cause
  4. 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

  1. to hunt for rats, esp. with dogs
  2. Slang
    1. to desert or betray a cause, movement, etc. as rats are reputed to desert a sinking ship
    2. to act as a stool pigeon; inform (on)

transitive verb

to tease (the hair)

See rat in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. 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.
  2. Slang
    a. A despicable person, especially one who betrays or informs upon associates.
    b. A scab laborer.
  3. A pad of material, typically hair, worn as part of a woman's coiffure to puff out her own hair.
verb rat·ted, rat·ting, rats
verb, intransitive
  1. To hunt for or catch rats, especially with the aid of dogs.
  2. Slang To betray one's associates by giving information: ratted on his best friend to the police.
  3. Slang To work as a scab laborer.
verb, transitive
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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