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noun Uncommon

rotting

Rotting (noun) means the process of decaying or breaking down organically. Example: “Rotting in a damp cellar had turned the wooden beams soft and crumbly.”

noun
1
The process of decaying or breaking down organically.
"Rotting in a damp cellar had turned the wooden beams soft and crumbly."
"The smell of rotting vegetables filled the kitchen."
2
Material that has already decayed.
"The gardener cleared away the rotting from the base of the compost heap."

How to use rotting

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething breaking down or going bad, usually through decay.

Common pairings
rotting wood rotting fruit left rotting

Word forms

rottings plural

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Fill the gap

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_____ in a damp cellar had turned the wooden beams soft and crumbly.

Etymology

From the verb "rot" plus the suffix "-ing," tracing back to Old English rotian, "to decay."

Origin: Old English

Related words

Rhymes for rotting

See all rhymes for rotting →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rotting” mean?

The word “rotting” means the process of decaying or breaking down organically. In plain terms, something breaking down or going bad, usually through decay.

How do you use “rotting” in a sentence?

Here is “rotting” used in a sentence: “Rotting in a damp cellar had turned the wooden beams soft and crumbly.”

What part of speech is “rotting”?

“Rotting” is a noun.

Where does the word “rotting” come from?

The word “rotting” comes from Old English. From the verb "rot" plus the suffix "-ing," tracing back to Old English rotian, "to decay.".

Is “rotting” a common word?

“Rotting” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “rotting” have?

“Rotting” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of decaying or breaking down organically.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial