rat (r t)n.1. a. Any of various long-tailed rodents resembling mice but larger, especially one of the genus Rattus. b. Any of various animals similar to one of these long-tailed rodents. 2. Slang a. A despicable person, especially one who betrays or informs upon associates. b. A scab laborer. 3. A pad of material, typically hair, worn as part of a woman's coiffure to puff out her own hair. v. rat·ted, rat·ting, rats v.intr.1. To hunt for or catch rats, especially with the aid of dogs. 2. Slang To betray one's associates by giving information: ratted on his best friend to the police. 3. Slang To work as a scab laborer. v.tr. To puff out (the hair) with or as if with a pad of material.
[Middle English, from Old English ræt; see r d- in Indo-European roots.] |
rat Noun 1. a long-tailed rodent, similar to but larger than a mouse 2. Informal someone who is disloyal or treacherous 3. smell a rat to detect something suspicious Verb [ratting, ratted] 1. rat on a. to betray (someone): good friends don't rat on each other b. to go back on (an agreement): his ex-wife claims he ratted on their divorce settlement 2. to hunt and kill rats [Old English ræt]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | rat - any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mousegnawer, rodent - relatively small placental mammals having a single pair of constantly growing incisor teeth specialized for gnawing pocket rat - any of various rodents with cheek pouches jerboa rat - large Australian rat with hind legs adapted for leaping | | 2. | rat - someone who works (or provides workers) during a strikeworker - a person who works at a specific occupation; "he is a good worker" | | 3. | rat - a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible; "only a rotter would do that"; "kill the rat"; "throw the bum out"; "you cowardly little pukes!"; "the British call a contemptible person a `git'"dirty dog, git, lowlife, puke, rotter, scum bag, skunk, so-and-so, stinker, stinkpot, bum, crumb | | 4. | rat - one who reveals confidential information in return for money | | 5. | rat - a pad (usually made of hair) worn as part of a woman's coiffurepad - a flat mass of soft material used for protection, stuffing, or comfort | | Verb | 1. | rat - desert one's party or group of friends, for example, for one's personal advantagedefect, desert - desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army; "If soldiers deserted Hitler's army, they were shot" | | 2. | rat - employ scabs or strike breakers inmanufacture, industry - the organized action of making of goods and services for sale; "American industry is making increased use of computers to control production" hire, employ, engage - engage or hire for work; "They hired two new secretaries in the department"; "How many people has she employed?" | | 3. | rat - take the place of work of someone on strikedo work, work - be employed; "Is your husband working again?"; "My wife never worked"; "Do you want to work after the age of 60?"; "She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money"; "She works as a waitress to put herself through college" | | 4. | rat - give (hair) the appearance of being fuller by using a ratpad, fill out - line or stuff with soft material; "pad a bra" | | 5. | rat - catch rats, especially with dogscapture, catch - capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping; "I caught a rabbit in the trap today" | | 6. | rat - give away information about somebody; "He told on his classmate who had cheated on the exam"inform - impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to; "I informed him of his rights" sell out - give information that compromises others |
rat ( Informal) noun 1. traitor, grass Brit. ( informal) betrayer, deceiver, informer, defector, deserter, double-crosser, quisling, stool pigeon, nark Brit., Austral., N.Z. ( slang) snake in the grass, two-timer ( informal) fizgig Austral. ( slang) noun 2. rogue, scoundrel, heel ( slang) cad ( old-fashioned), ( informal), Brit. bounder ( old-fashioned), ( slang), Brit. rotter ( slang), chiefly Brit. bad lot, shyster ( informal), chiefly U.S. ratfink ( slang), chiefly U.S., Canad. wrong 'un Austral. ( slang)
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