rot

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
rot/rɒt/

▶verb (rots, rotting, rotted)

• 1 decompose by the action of bacteria and fungi; decay.

• 2 gradually deteriorate or decline.

▶noun

• 1 the process of decaying.

  ■ rotten or decayed matter.

• 2 (the rot) Brit. a process of deterioration; a decline in standards: there is enough talent to stop the rot.

• 3 any of a number of fungal or bacterial diseases that cause tissue deterioration, especially in plants.

• 4 informal, chiefly Brit. rubbish: don't talk rot.

– origin OE rotian (v.), of Gmc origin.