Word
rotting
Phoneticsrot·ting
US/ˈɹɑtɪŋ/
UK/ɹˈɒtɪŋ/
Definitions
01decaying
adj. decaying or breaking down naturally, usually with a bad smell.
adj. undergoing the process of organic decomposition; typically used to describe biological matter.
“The smell of rotting leaves filled the damp forest air in autumn.”
“The investigators found the structure was unsafe due to rotting floorboards that had been exposed to moisture for decades.”
Synonyms
02the process of decay
n. the natural process of something breaking down and decaying.
n. the biological or chemical process of decomposition.
“The rotting of the fruit happened quickly in the hot summer sun.”
“The rapid rotting of organic waste in the landfill produces significant amounts of methane gas if not properly managed.”
Technical
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The apartments smelled of rotting food and unflushed toilets.” Etymology
From Middle English rotynge (“rotting”), from Old English rotung; equivalent to rot + -ing. Conflated with Middle English rotende, present participle of roten (“to rot”), from Old English rotiende, present participle of rotian (“to rot”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/rotting