rotten

The definition of rotten is someone or something extremely bad, corrupt, spoiled, unpleasant or decaying.

(adjective)

  1. A bad attitude is an example of something that would be described as a rotten attitude.
  2. A person who is bad at tennis is an example of someone who would be described as a rotten tennis player.
  3. A public official who accepts bribes is an example of a rotten individual.
  4. Food with mold growing on it is an example of something that would be described as rotten.

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See rotten in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. in a decayed or decomposed state; spoiled, putrefied, tainted, etc.
  2. having a bad odor because of decomposition or decay; putrid; foul-smelling
  3. morally corrupt or offensive; dishonest, open to bribery, etc.
  4. unsound or weak, as if decayed within
  5. soft or easily broken as because of decomposition; friable: said of rocks, ice, etc.
  6. Slang very bad, unsatisfactory, nasty, etc.

Origin: ME roten < ON rotinn < IE *reud- < base *reu-, to tear, rip open (> rude): prob. used orig. of flax left to soak and rot

Related Forms:

See rotten in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective rot·ten·er, rot·ten·est
  1. Being in a state of putrefaction or decay; decomposed.
  2. Having a foul odor resulting from or suggestive of decay; putrid.
  3. Made weak or unsound by rot: rotten floorboards.
  4. Morally corrupt or despicable: She's rotten to the core.
  5. Very bad; wretched: rotten weather.
adverb
To a very great degree: The child is spoiled rotten.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English roten

Origin: , from Old Norse rotinn

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Related Forms:

  • rotˈten·ly adverb
  • rotˈten·ness noun

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