dry-rot
1 of 2verb
ˈdrī-ˌrät 
dry-rotted; dry-rotting; dry-rots
transitive verb
: to affect with dry rot
intransitive verb
: to become affected with dry rot
dry rot
2 of 2noun
1
a
: a decay of seasoned timber caused by fungi that consume the cellulose of wood leaving a soft skeleton which is readily reduced to powder
b
: a fungal rot of plant tissue in which the affected areas are dry and often firmer than normal or more or less mummified
2
: a fungus causing dry rot
3
: decay from within caused especially by resistance to new forces
Example Sentences
Noun The windowsill was badly damaged by dry rot. Dry rot had eaten away part of the beam.
Recent Examples on the Web
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2022 Inspect your roof for problems that lead to leaks and possible dry rot and structural damage from water. oregonlive, 15 May 2022 The balcony collapsed due to dry rot in supporting beams, and inspectors found that the contractor used substandard wood. Michael Cabanatuan, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Jan. 2022 True, my daydreams don’t include finding dry rot, black mold, ruptured pipes, or snake dens. Marni Jameson, orlandosentinel.com, 24 Dec. 2021 The inspection must also include the waterproofing protecting the structural components from moisture damage (i.e., dry rot). Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2021 The front porch was rebuilt, lead paint removed and dry rot eliminated. oregonlive, 24 Sep. 2021 The novel, narrated beautifully by actor and singer Elizabeth Knowelden, is a potent concoction of treachery and obsession; village life and romance; dry rot and load-bearing walls. Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2021 The challenge for leaders is to learn how to combat mental health issues that can become chronic or contagious at work, ultimately threatening the strength of a company in the same way that dry rot threatens the stability of a house. Curt Steinhorst, Forbes, 27 May 2021 See More
Noun
Inspect the wood for dry rot by looking for spore dust, fruiting bodies of fungus, or a lingering damp or musty smell. Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2022 Inspect your roof for problems that lead to leaks and possible dry rot and structural damage from water. oregonlive, 15 May 2022 The balcony collapsed due to dry rot in supporting beams, and inspectors found that the contractor used substandard wood. Michael Cabanatuan, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Jan. 2022 True, my daydreams don’t include finding dry rot, black mold, ruptured pipes, or snake dens. Marni Jameson, orlandosentinel.com, 24 Dec. 2021 The inspection must also include the waterproofing protecting the structural components from moisture damage (i.e., dry rot). Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2021 The front porch was rebuilt, lead paint removed and dry rot eliminated. oregonlive, 24 Sep. 2021 The novel, narrated beautifully by actor and singer Elizabeth Knowelden, is a potent concoction of treachery and obsession; village life and romance; dry rot and load-bearing walls. Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2021 The challenge for leaders is to learn how to combat mental health issues that can become chronic or contagious at work, ultimately threatening the strength of a company in the same way that dry rot threatens the stability of a house. Curt Steinhorst, Forbes, 27 May 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
Verb
1870, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1a