Definition of 'rut'
Word forms: ruts plural
1. countable noun
If you say that someone is in a rut, you disapprove of the fact that they have become fixed in their way of thinking
and doing things, and find it difficult to change. You can also say that someone's
life or career is in a rut.
[disapproval]
2. countable noun
A rut is a deep, narrow mark made in the ground by the wheels of a vehicle.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of
rut
American English pronunciation
British English pronunciation
Word Frequency
rut in American English 1
noun
2.
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈrutted or ˈrutting
3.
to make a rut or ruts in
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
rut in American English 2
noun
1.
the periodic sexual excitement, or heat, of certain mammals: applied esp. to males, often specif. to those male ruminants in which it occurs once a year
see also estrus2.
the period during which this occurs
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈrutted or ˈrutting
3.
to be in rut
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME rutte < OFr ruit < L rugitus, a roaring (as of deer in rut) < rugire, to roar < IE *reuk- < echoic base *reu-, to roar, cry hoarsely > OE ryn, OSlav rykati, to roar
Word Frequency
rut in American English 1
(rʌt) (verb rutted, rutting)
noun
1.
a furrow or track in the ground, esp. one made by the passage of a vehicle or vehicles
2.
any furrow, groove, etc
3.
to fall into a rut
transitive verb
4.
to make a rut or ruts in; furrow
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1570–80; perh. var. of route]Word Frequency
rut in American English 2
(rʌt) (verb rutted, rutting)
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1375–1425; late ME rutte ‹ MF rut, ruit ‹ LL rugītus a roaring, equiv. to L rugī(re) to roar + -tus suffix of v. action]Word Frequency
rut in British English 1
noun
verbWord forms: ruts, rutting, rutted
4. (transitive)
to make a rut or ruts in
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C16: probably from French route road
Word Frequency
rut in British English 2
noun
1.
a recurrent period of sexual excitement and reproductive activity in certain male ruminants, such as the deer, that corresponds to the period of oestrus in females
2. another name for oestrus
verbWord forms: ruts, rutting, rutted
3. (intransitive)
(of male ruminants) to be in a period of sexual excitement and activity
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C15: from Old French rut noise, roar, from Latin rugītus, from rugīre to roar
Synonyms of 'rut'
Examples of 'rut' in a sentence
rut
Example sentences from the Collins Corpus
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We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
Rothwell believes the rockumentary has been in a bit of a creative rut.
Trends of
rut
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In other languages
rut
British English: rut
NOUN /rʌt/
If you say that someone is in a rut, you disapprove of the fact that they have become fixed in their way of thinking and doing things, and find it difficult to change. You can also say that someone's life or career is in a rut.
I don't like being in a rut – I like to keep moving on.
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Definition of rut from the Collins English Dictionary
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