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rot through

C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To go so rotten that it breaks open or falls apart all the way through.

Meanings

1 C1 neutral

To decay until a hole forms or the material is completely penetrated by rot.

"The wooden hull had rotted through, letting water pour into the boat."

Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 neutral

To become so decayed that the entire structure or substance is compromised.

"The old attic floorboards had rotted through after years of roof leaks."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Implies complete penetration of decay, not just surface deterioration. Often used in contexts of structural inspection — roofing, flooring, wooden furniture. Less common than 'rot away' or 'rot off'.

Commonly used with

floorboards roof hull beam planks pipe

Forms

Base
rot through
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rots through
he/she/it
Past simple
roted through
yesterday
Past participle
roted through
have + pp
-ing form
roting through
continuous

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