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 notesIn plain EnglishSomething breaking down or going bad, usually through decay.
Common pairings
rotting wood
rotting fruit
left rotting
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Word forms
- Plural
- rottings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ 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."
Synonyms
View more →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.
