rotten

Everyday

1. Gone bad, soft and smelly because of decay (a rotten egg, rotten wood). tree →
2. (informal) Very bad, unpleasant or unfair (rotten weather, a rotten trick). tree →
3. Feeling ill or unhappy (I feel rotten). tree →
4. Morally bad, dishonest (rotten to the core). tree →
5. Spoiled rotten: given too much and allowed everything. tree →

In the lessons

In science, rotten food shows decay by microbes; rotten eggs smell because of a gas called hydrogen sulphide. In health and safety: never eat food that looks, smells or tastes rotten — it can make you ill; rotten branches and floorboards can break under you. In stories, «rotten» describes villains or bad luck. Phrases: rotten egg, rotten apple (one bad person), feel rotten, rotten luck, spoiled rotten, rotten to the core.

Examples

• This banana is rotten — throw it in the compost. tree →
• Don't climb on that branch, it's rotten. tree →
• The room smelled of rotten eggs. tree →
• We had rotten weather on our camping trip. tree →
• I feel rotten — I think I have a cold. tree →
• That was a rotten thing to say to your friend. tree →
• The grandparents spoil the baby rotten. tree →
• Last one in the pool is a rotten egg! tree →
• "Rotten apples," answered the ostler; "a whole sackful of them. tree →

Note

Spelling: double «t»: rotten. From the verb «rot». Safety: «when in doubt, throw it out» — don't taste food to check if it's rotten.

In Jewish tradition

Job uses "rotten wood" to show how weak the great crocodile-like Leviathan thinks iron is. In the primary lessons: In science, rotten food shows decay by microbes; rotten eggs smell because of a gas called hydrogen sulphide. In health and safety: never eat food that looks, smells or tastes rotten — it can make you ill; rotten branches and floorboards can break under you. In stories, «rotten» describes villains or bad luck. Phrases: rotten egg, rotten apple (one bad person), feel rotten, rotten luck, spoiled rotten, rotten to the core.

Examples

• He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. (Writings JOB.41.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelling: double «t»: rotten. From the verb «rot». Safety: «when in doubt, throw it out» — don't taste food to check if it's rotten.