dry rot

dry rot
a) The crumbly, friable decayed portions of wooden members of buildings, especially at or below grade, usually caused by a fungal infection.

1836 They are, for the most part, low-roofed, mouldy rooms, where innumerable rolls of parchment, which have been perspiring in secret for the last century, send forth an agreeable odour, which is mingled by day with the scent of the dry-rot, and by night with the various exhalations which arise from damp cloaks, festering umbrellas, and the coarsest tallow candles. — Charles Dickens, [ The Pickwick Papers.]

b) Metaphorically, a progressive malaise of decay, corruption, or datedness.

1952 Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like dry rot to the house of Judah. Hosea 5:12, RSV


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  • Dry rot — Dry Dry (dr[imac]), a. [Compar. {Drier}; superl. {Driest}.] [OE. dru[yogh]e, druye, drie, AS. dryge; akin to LG. dr[ o]ge, D. droog, OHG. trucchan, G. trocken, Icel. draugr a dry log. Cf. {Drought}, {Drouth}, 3d {Drug}.] 1. Free from moisture;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dry rot — Rot Rot, n. 1. Process of rotting; decay; putrefaction. [1913 Webster] 2. (Bot.) A disease or decay in fruits, leaves, or wood, supposed to be caused by minute fungi. See {Bitter rot}, {Black rot}, etc., below. [1913 Webster] 3. [Cf. G. rotz… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dry Rot — Données clés Réalisation Maurice Elvey Scénario John Roy Chapman Acteurs principaux Ronald Shiner Brian Rix Peggy Mount Sociétés de production Remus Films Ltd. Pays d’origine …   Wikipédia en Français

  • dry rot — n. 1. a fungous decay causing seasoned timber to become brittle and crumble to powder 2. a similar fungous disease of plants, fruits, and vegetables 3. any of various fungi causing such decay 4. any internal moral or social decay, thought of as… …   English World dictionary

  • dry rot — dry′ rot′ n. 1) ppa a) a decay of seasoned timber, resulting in its becoming brittle and crumbling to a dry powder, caused by various fungi b) ppa any of various diseases of plants in which the rotted tissues are dry 2) any concealed or… …   From formal English to slang

  • dry rot — n [U] a disease in wood that turns it into powder …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • dry rot — noun uncount a disease that destroys wood …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • dry rot — ► NOUN ▪ a fungus causing decay of wood in poorly ventilated conditions …   English terms dictionary

  • Dry rot — This entry refers to the term dry rot rather than any given species of fungi or specific process of material degradation. As noted, the term is applied to different species of fungi in different regions. For the 1956 film, see Dry Rot (film)… …   Wikipedia

  • dry-rot — /druy rot /, v.i., v.t., dry rotted, dry rotting. to undergo or cause to undergo the action or effects of dry rot. [1865 70] * * * …   Universalium

  • dry-rot — verb Date: 1870 transitive verb to affect with dry rot intransitive verb to become affected with dry rot …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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