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rat

Syllabification: (rat)
Pronunciation: /rat/

Translate rat | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of rat

noun

  • 1a rodent that resembles a large mouse, typically having a pointed snout and a long, sparsely haired tail. Some kinds have become cosmopolitan and are sometimes responsible for transmitting diseases.
    • Family Muridae: many genera, including Rattus (the Old World rats), and several hundred species
  • 2 informal a person regarded as despicable, especially a man who has been deceitful or disloyal.
  • an informer.
  • 3 [with adjective] a person who is associated with or frequents a specified place:you and the rest of the tavern rats will have to find a new hangout LA mall rats
  • 4a pad used to give shape or fullness to a woman’s hair.

exclamation

(rats) informal
  • used to express mild annoyance or irritation.

verb (rats, ratting, ratted)

[no object]
  • 1 (usually as noun ratting) (of a person, dog, or cat) hunt or kill rats.
  • 2 informal desert one’s party, side, or cause.
  • 3give (hair) shape or fullness with a rat.

Phrasal Verbs

rat on (also rat out)

informal inform on (someone) to a person in a position of authority:I never thought Stash would rat on me men will literally choose death over ratting out another prisoner
break (an agreement or promise):he accused the government of ratting on an earlier pledge

Origin:

Old English ræt, probably of Romance origin; reinforced in Middle English by Old French rat. The verb dates from the early 19th century

rat in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of rat in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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