Pronunciation: /ræt/

Definitions of rat

noun a small rodent with a long tail, known for being a pest in many urban areas

Example Sentences

A1 I saw a rat in the alley.

A2 The rat scurried across the kitchen floor.

B1 The rat gnawed through the wires in the attic.

B2 The exterminator set traps to catch the rats in the basement.

C1 Rats are known to carry diseases and should be dealt with promptly.

C2 The research team studied the behavior of rats in a controlled environment.

Examples of rat in a Sentence

formal The scientist conducted a study on the behavior of the rat in a controlled environment.

informal I saw a rat scurrying across the street last night.

slang That guy is such a rat, always trying to cheat his way out of things.

figurative She felt like a rat trapped in a maze, unable to find her way out of the complicated situation.

Grammatical Forms of rat

past tense

ratted

plural

rats

comparative

more rat-like

superlative

most rat-like

present tense

rat

future tense

will rat

perfect tense

have ratted

continuous tense

is ratting

singular

rat

positive degree

rat

infinitive

to rat

gerund

ratting

participle

ratting

Origin and Evolution of rat

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'rat' originated from the Old English word 'ræt'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'rat' has retained its original meaning of a rodent belonging to the genus Rattus, but it has also been used metaphorically to describe a person who is considered to be sneaky or untrustworthy.