rancid

Everyday

1. Smelling or tasting bad because it has gone off, especially fat, oil, butter, nuts or milk: «rancid butter». tree →
2. (informal) Horrible or very unpleasant: «That joke was rancid.» tree →

In the lessons

In science and food lessons rancid fat shows food spoiling as fats react with air; in everyday life it tells you not to eat something; kids also use it as slang for «disgusting». Phrases: «go rancid», «turn rancid», «a rancid smell».

Examples

• The butter had gone rancid in the heat. tree →
• Old cooking oil smells rancid. tree →
• Nuts can turn rancid if you keep them too long. tree →
• Throw that rancid milk away. tree →
• Ugh, your PE bag smells rancid! tree →
• Keep oil in a cool, dark place so it does not go rancid. tree →
• It consisted of watery soup, seasoned with pepper and rancid oil. tree →

Note

Use «go/turn rancid». Science: fats go rancid when they react with oxygen in the air (oxidation) or with water and germs; cold, dark and airtight storage slows it. Eating rancid food can make you feel ill.