English
rat
see also: Rat, RAT
Pronunciation Noun

rat (plural rats)

  1. (zoology) A medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus Rattus.
  2. (informal) Any of the numerous members of several rodent families (e.g. voles and mice) that resemble true rats in appearance, usually having a pointy snout, a long, bare tail, and body length greater than about 12 cm, or 5 inches.
  3. (informal) A person who is known for betrayal; a scoundrel; a quisling.
    • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island
      He’s more a man than any pair of rats of you in this here house.
    What a rat, leaving us stranded here!
  4. (informal) An informant or snitch.
  5. (informal) A scab: a worker who acts against trade union policies.
  6. (slang) A person who routinely spends time at a particular location.
    Our teenager has become a mall rat.
    He loved hockey and was a devoted rink rat.
  7. A wad of shed hair used as part of a hairstyle.
  8. A roll of material used to puff out the hair, which is turned over it.
  9. (UK, north-west London, slang, vulgar) Vagina.
    Get your rat out.
  10. (chiefly, informal) Short for muskrat#English|muskrat.
    • 1910, L. W. Pierce, "Muskrats are fast disappearing", in Hunter-trader-trapper, page 70:
      The price of rats began to rise and soon after the marsh froze over, spearing rats began, which was done with a one tine three-eighths inch steel rod, with a wooden handle […]
    • 1929, E. J. Dailey, in Hardings Magazine's Question Box, printed in Fur Fish Game, page 73:
      Where natural marshes, or natural foods are found, are best places for raising muskrats. Louisiana and other southern states raise millions of rats, but they do not bring as good prices as northern raised ones. Delaware and Maryland have famed marshes. Other states are becoming noted for muskrat raising, also.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations
  • Russian: завсегда́тай
Verb

rat (rats, present participle ratting; past and past participle ratted)

  1. (usually with “on” or “out”) To betray a person or party, especially by telling their secret to an authority or an enemy; to turn someone in.
    He ratted on his coworker.
    He is going to rat us out!
  2. (informal, intransitive) To work as a scab, going against trade union policies.
  3. (of a dog, etc.) To kill rats.
Synonyms Translations Noun

rat (plural rats)

  1. (regional) A scratch or a score.
  2. (nautical, regional) A place in the sea with rapid currents and crags where a ship is likely to be torn apart in stormy weather.
Verb

rat (rats, present participle ratting; past and past participle ratted)

  1. (regional) To scratch or score.
    He ratted a vertical line on his face with a pocket knife.
  2. (regional, rare, obsolete) To tear, rip, rend.
    Ratted to shreds.
  3. Damn, drat, blast; used in oaths.
    • 1904, Rafael Sabatini, The Tavern Knight, chapter XXVI:
      “But, rat me, sir,” cried Foster in bewilderment, “tis too generous—'pon honour it is. I can't consent to it. No, rat me, I can't.”
Noun

rat (plural rats)

  1. (military, slang) A ration.
    • 2014, John, Buffoon (page 243)
      With regards to the testing of his product, the initial blood analysis had come back confirming huge, distinctive nutritional superiority for Stewart's military ration pack. Given that the policy of the British Army is to be fully ready for war at the drop of a hat, he was sitting on the potential of supplying new rats for the entire army […]
Rat
Proper noun
  1. The first of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.
RAT
Noun

rat

  1. (computing, countable) Acronym of remote-access Trojan
  2. (philosophy, uncountable) Acronym of relevant alternatives theory


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