rotten adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of rotten adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

rotten

adjective
 
/ˈrɒtn/
 
/ˈrɑːtn/
Idioms
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  1. (of food, wood, etc.) that has decayed and cannot be eaten or used
    • the smell of rotten vegetables
    • The fruit is starting to go rotten.
    • rotten floorboards
    Extra Examples
    • That meat's going to go rotten if you don't use it soon.
    • The wood was quite rotten by this time.
    • They pelted him with rotten eggs.
  2. [usually before noun] (informal) very bad synonym terrible
    • I've had a rotten day!
    • What rotten luck!
    • She's a rotten singer.
    • rotten at something I'm rotten at maths.
    • rotten at doing something I'm rotten at remembering names.
    Extra Examples
    • That was a rather rotten trick!
    • You rotten little swine!
  3. [not usually before noun] (informal) dishonest
    • The organization is rotten to the core.
  4. [not before noun] (informal) looking or feeling ill
    • She felt rotten.
    • This flu makes you feel rotten.
    Topics Health problemsc2
  5. [not before noun] (informal) feeling guilty about something you have done
    • I feel rotten about leaving them behind.
  6. [only before noun] (informal) used to emphasize that you are angry or upset about something
    • You can keep your rotten money!
    7. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old Norse rotinn.
Idioms
a bad/rotten apple
  1. one bad person who has a bad effect on others in a group
See rotten in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: rotten

Nearby words

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