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The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms INTRO ...

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years.<br />

--n. 3 decay, decomposition, mould, putrefaction, putrescence,<br />

blight, corrosion, corruption, disintegration, deterioration:<br />

Once the rot has set in, the job <strong>of</strong> revitalization can be<br />

overwhelming. 4 (stuff and) nonsense, balderdash, rubbish,<br />

bunkum, tommy-rot, twaddle, drivel, hogwash, eyewash, trash,<br />

Colloq claptrap, bunk, boloney or boloney, bosh, malarkey,<br />

moonshine, poppycock, tosh, Slang crap, bull, codswallop, Brit<br />

(a load <strong>of</strong> (old)) cobblers, Taboo balls, bullshit: He knows<br />

nothing whatsoever about linguistics and is just talking a lot<br />

<strong>of</strong> rot.<br />

rotate v. 1 turn, revolve, go round, spin, gyrate, pirouette, whirl,<br />

twirl, wheel, pivot, reel: As the gear rotates, its teeth mesh<br />

with those <strong>of</strong> the other gear, causing it to turn in the opposite<br />

direction. 2 change, exchange, alternate, interchange, switch,<br />

trade places; take turns, Colloq swap or swop: Rotate the<br />

positions <strong>of</strong> the tyres for more even wear. We rotate the chores<br />

in our family.<br />

rote n. 1 routine, ritual: He acquired a rote knowledge <strong>of</strong> the<br />

words, without knowing what they mean. 2 by rote. a by heart,<br />

from memory: He can recite the entire Prologue <strong>of</strong> Canterbury<br />

Tales by rote. b unthinkingly, automatically, mechanically:<br />

She learned the French dialogue by rote but doesn't understand a<br />

word <strong>of</strong> it.<br />

rotten adj. 1 rotted, decayed, decomposed, decomposing, putrid,<br />

putrescent, putrescing, mouldy, mouldering, spoilt or spoiled,<br />

mildewed, rancid, fetid or foetid, stale, rank, foul, feculent,<br />

tainted, contaminated, festered, festering, corrupt, bad, <strong>of</strong>f,<br />

turned, overripe, soured, sour: One rotten apple in the barrel<br />

can spoil the rest. <strong>The</strong> stench <strong>of</strong> rotten meat filled the room. 2<br />

rotted, rusted, corroded, deteriorating, disintegrating,<br />

crumbling, crumbly, falling to pieces, friable: He stepped on a<br />

spot where the wood was rotten and his foot went right through<br />

the stair. 3 immoral, corrupt, dishonest, deceitful, venal,<br />

shameless, degenerate, villainous, iniquitous, evil, wicked,<br />

vile, debased, base, perverted, depraved, unscrupulous,<br />

unprincipled, amoral, warped, Slang bent: <strong>The</strong>se drug dealers<br />

are rotten at the core. 4 heinous, evil, vile, base, miserable,<br />

despicable, wretched, awful, terrible, horrible, horrific,

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