What is the Latin word for rot?

The usual Latin words for “rot” are putrēscō, putrefaciō, pūtēscō; also vitiō, fracēscō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“rot” in Latin

putrēscōto putrefy, rot putrefaciōto rot or putrefy; to soften pūtēscōto rot, decay, putrefy vitiōto vitiate, make faulty, spoil, taint, corrupt, damage; to violate sexually; to falsify, corrupt (tamper with)fracēscōto become soft, to become mellow; to rot, spoil

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

rot v.

putrescere: putrefieri: putescere or putiscere: vitiari: fracescere (of fruit, especially of olives). To cause to rot, putrefacere.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for rot?: The usual Latin words for “rot” are putrēscō, putrefaciō, pūtēscō; also vitiō, fracēscō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.