rat

Study(21)

/ɹæt/

noun 13verb 8name 1

Collocations

(noun.)

ADJ

black, brown | laboratory | sewer | water

RAT + VERB

scurry, scuttle

Rats scuttled through the dark basement walls at night, searching for food.

squeak

gnaw

The rat gnawed at the wooden beam in the attic for several nights.

carry/spread disease

RAT + NOUN

catcher

Our cat proved to be an excellent rat catcher around the old barn.

droppings | poison

PHRASES

rat-infested

The old warehouse was rat-infested and dangerous, so the city ordered it demolished.

Definitions

noun

Any of the numerous members of several rodent families that usually have short limbs, a pointy snout, a long, hairless tail, and a body length greater than about 12 cm, or 5 inches.

A medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus Rattus.

Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.

A person who is known for betrayal.

Near-synonyms: rouge, scoundrel, snake; see also Thesaurus:villain

rat bastard

An informant or snitch.

A scab: a worker who acts against trade union policies.

verb

To hunt or kill rats.

To betray a political party, cause or principle; to betray someone, to desert a person or thing.

To work as a scab, going against trade union policies.

To backcomb (hair).

In 1962, the higher a girl's hair was ratted the more available she was, it was simply understood.

To inform on someone; to betray someone to the police or authorities.

He ratted on his coworker.

He is going to rat us out!

noun

A scratch or a score.

A place in the sea with rapid currents and crags where a ship is likely to be torn apart in stormy weather.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — one who reveals confidential information in return for money

noun — a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible

noun — someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike

scab
strikebreaker
blackleg

verb — give away information about somebody

verb — take the place of work of someone on strike

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

smell a rat

To sense something suspicious.

Oh, Are you thereabouts, Sir; then I ſmell a Rat Ifaith; but I'll ſay nothing.

winter rat

An old, unattractive automobile, purchased for little money, to be driven during brutal Great Lakes winters while the owner's "good" car remains garaged and protected from corrosive road salt for the season.

rat run

A small, usually minor road used by a significant amount of traffic as a short cut or to avoid congestion on more major routes.

This week Wykeham Street in Scarborough was named as the worst rat run in Britain. […] A ‘rat run’ sounds like some sort of charity jog by rodents keen to improve their image, but

lab rat

A student or employee who spends a great deal of time working in a laboratory.

As a graduate student, she loved being a “lab rat,” Dr. Blackburn said, adding, “I was just really focused on the science, the science, the science.”

poor as a rat

Synonym of poor as a church mouse.

Example Bank

Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.

Wiktionary

Near-synonyms: rouge, scoundrel, snake; see also Thesaurus:villain

Wiktionary

rat bastard

Wiktionary

In 1962, the higher a girl's hair was ratted the more available she was, it was simply understood.

Wiktionary

He ratted on his coworker.

Wiktionary

He is going to rat us out!

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, rat is marked as informal, obsolete, slang, US, rare. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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