rot away — to gradually decay and disappear completely due to decomposition
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to gradually decay and disappear completely due to decomposition
Pronunciation (IPA): /rɑːt əˈweɪ/
Example Sentences
- My teenage son's room smells so bad that I'm worried the floorboards might rot away.
- The old pier had rotted away so much that even the seagulls refused to land on it.
- Without proper dental care, your teeth will gradually rot away.
rot away
VERB[/rɑːt əˈweɪ/]
to gradually decay and disappear completely due to decomposition
The forgotten apples in the basement slowly rot away into mush.
In the hot sun, the post rots away at this very spot!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase derives from Old English rotian, meaning 'to decay or putrefy'. The addition of away intensifies the sense of complete decomposition, emphasizing total destruction through decay rather than partial degradation.
Breakdown
rot (to decay, from Old English rotian) + away (completely, thoroughly), combining to express the process of something decaying entirely into nothing.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My teenage son's room smells so bad that I'm worried the floorboards might rot away.”
“The old pier had rotted away so much that even the seagulls refused to land on it.”
“Without proper dental care, your teeth will gradually rot away.”
“The ancient manuscript had rotted away in the damp basement.”
📚Related Words
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