Gradually decaying and breaking down, usually of organic matter like food or wood, or morally/socially deteriorating.
From Old Norse 'rota' meaning 'to rot.' The word entered English around the 1200s. It's related to 'rotten' (adjective) and describes the process of decay caused by bacteria and fungi breaking down organic material.
Bacteria and fungi that cause rotting are actually nature's recyclers—they break down dead organisms so nutrients return to soil for new growth. So while 'rotting' sounds gross, it's one of Earth's most essential processes, literally the cycle of life turning death into fertility!
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