rot

verb (rots, rotting, rotted)

• (chiefly of animal or vegetable matter) decay or cause to decay by the action of bacteria and fungi; decompose: [no object]:the chalets were neglected and their woodwork was rotting away [with object]:caries sets in at a weak point and spreads to rot the whole tooth
• gradually deteriorate through lack of attention or opportunity:he cannot understand the way the education system has been allowed to rot

noun

• 1the process of decaying:the leaves were turning black with rot
• rotten or decayed matter:she was busy cutting the rot from the potatoes
• (the rot) a process of deterioration; a decline in standards:it was when they moved back to the family home that the rot set in
• [usually with modifier] any of a number of fungal or bacterial diseases that cause tissue deterioration, especially in plants.

• 2 informal nonsense; rubbish:don’t talk rot