Rotten/ˈrɑːtn/ Definition 1 of 4Pro Tip 1/2Not Just Food Though 'rotten' often describes food, it can refer to anything decomposed like wood or teeth. The wooden deck was rotten after years of rain. Pro Tip 2/2Smell and Texture 'Rotten' implies a bad odor and a squishy or mushy texture. The rotten vegetables oozed and smelled terrible.