rat1 nounrat2 verb
ratrat1 /ræt/ ●●○ noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINrat1
Origin:
Old English rætEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- This is a good way to get back at that rat Yossarian.
- But the immature brain cells were the most effective treatment in the rats, says Sandberg.
- He ran on laughing, used to having rats thrown at him.
- Old steamboats with their scrollwork more scrolled and withered by weathers sat in the mud inhabited by rats.
- The rat weights did not differ between the groups.
- The rats eventually managed to press the lever very quickly after being placed in the box, in order to receive their reward.
- The rats must have learned the maze earlier and were demonstrating latent learning.
- The electrodes gave the rats access to their own stores of bliss-producing neurotransmitters.
Longman Language Activatorto think that someone has done something wrong
to think that someone is probably guilty of something illegal or dishonest: · Act naturally and no one will suspect you.suspect somebody of (doing) something: · He had suspected her of lying for some time.· Both men had originally been suspected of Brown's murder.suspect murder/foul play (=suspect that there has been a murder): · A man has been found dead in his home and the police suspect foul play.
thinking that someone might be guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest, without being sure: · I started to get suspicious when I found a hotel bill in Sarah's pocket.suspicious of: · The police were suspicious of Simpson because his story did not quite make sense.suspicious about: · His employer became suspicious about the amount of money he was claiming for expenses.suspicious mind: · You have a very suspicious mind, Mary. No, I had nothing to do with this.
a feeling that someone is probably guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest: · I had no solid evidence, only vague suspicions.suspicion of: · She had always had a deep suspicion of journalists and reporters.deep suspicion: · ''What's that behind your back?'', Maria said with a look of deep suspicion.arouse/cause suspicion (=make people suspect you): · The money was taken out of the bank in small amounts so as not to arouse suspicion.on suspicion of murder/theft etc (=because the police suspect you are guilty of murder etc): · He's been arrested on suspicion of murder.
to have a slight feeling that someone has done something wrong, without having any definite information: have a sneaking suspicion that: · I had a sneaking suspicion that my agent was not telling me the truth.
to think you probably know who did something wrong: · I don't know for definite who stole the money, but I have my suspicions.
informal to guess that someone is doing something bad or dishonest, even though you do not know exactly what it is: · We started to smell a rat when they asked for an extra £500 deposit.
WORD SETSaardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
shark-infested waters the story of a couple who quit the rat raceCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
shark-infested waters the story of a couple who quit the rat race· The omnivorous black rat consumes seeds, flowers and fruits, and many small animals.· The black rat was far more of a town-dwelling species and dependent on human food.· What is life for the 10,000 black rats living in Deshnok temple?
· Blackrag Madonna is blind as a dead rat.· Here and there, dead rats and other corpses float on the scum.· It was nothing but the stench of dead, rotting rats and of bats' dung.· The area was so poor that even the dead rats in the street looked as though they had died of hunger.· Fleas desert a dead rat faster than rats desert a sinking ship, and that makes sense.· There was a dead rat, blown almost in two, resting on the hearth of the fire.· I walked up and down on the bed, to control my trembling legs, and looked at the dead rat.· She was delighted that I was not hurt, and threw the dead rat out of the window.
· Each cage held at least one white rat.· I would try to elude notice, but I stood out like a white rat at a tomcat convention.
NOUN· I suspected they were pack rats because they were too smart to get themselves caught in the traps I set for them.
· He said he only wanted to kill himself and claimed he ate rat poison and planned to inhale car exhaust fumes.· Somewhere in Ohio a doctor has been jailed for feeding rat poison to his colleagues.· The rat poison and insecticide was taken from a van at Farm lane in Crawley near Witney.· Gullible hadn't been driving a great big lorry around the place and putting down rat poison.· Just himself and Eloise, a cleaver, a gun, a spoonful of rat poison.· Edinburgh Sheriff Court had heard that the boys bought the rat poison from Boots, and offered to cook dinner.· Underneath the sink he found a large tin of rat poison.· He would go down into the cellar tomorrow and put down some rat poison.
· Children are forced into the rat race for higher salary and prestige.· An executive from an international chemical company has given up the rat race to run a plant nursery.· Too much of a rat race.· Life is a rat race. 35.· At least we would be out of the rat race until I had worked up some seniority in my job.
VERB· It is enough to make you smell a rat and be damned for your cynicism.· He could smell a rat, and he knew just how the men had been cheated.· I only began to smell a rat when he couldn't come up with the documents he claimed to have.· Suffice to say, we smell a rat.· She felt that he was beginning to smell a rat.· I smell a rat here - I really do.· Niki smelled the rat and said unless his driving contract were honoured, he would move to McLaren.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► (like) rats leaving the sinking shipPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► the rat race► in rats’ tails
1an animal that looks like a large mouse with a long tail2spoken someone who has been disloyal to you or deceived you: - Out in the field, we looked like a bunch of drowned rats.
- You were looking like a drowned rat after our little foray into Puddephat's rooms.
- From Tracy Luv to Sarah-Lou, Corrie kids are as well-behaved as a plague of locusts.
- I wonder what really causes a plague of rats?
- The investor doesn't start to smell a rat until the payments aren't coming in.
- We started to smell a rat when they asked for an extra £500 deposit.
- He could smell a rat, and he knew just how the men had been cheated.
- I smell a rat here - I really do.
- I only began to smell a rat when he couldn't come up with the documents he claimed to have.
- It is enough to make you smell a rat and be damned for your cynicism.
- She felt that he was beginning to smell a rat.
- Suffice to say, we smell a rat.
But you promised to help us, you rat!3look like a drowned rat to look very wet and uncomfortable4(like) rats leaving the sinking ship used to describe people who leave a company, organization etc when it is in trouble → rat race, rats, → smell a rat at smell2(7)rat1 nounrat2 verb
ratrat2 verb (past tense and past participle ratted, present participle ratting) [intransitive] informal VERB TABLE
rat
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | rat |
| he, she, it | rats | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | ratted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have ratted |
| he, she, it | has ratted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had ratted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will rat |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have ratted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am ratting |
| he, she, it | is ratting | |
| you, we, they | are ratting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was ratting |
| you, we, they | were ratting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been ratting |
| he, she, it | has been ratting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been ratting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be ratting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been ratting |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- After that you ratted or rotted.
- I have to rat all he has reet.
- Looks like Rico got in on it, then decided like he was gon na rat to Spider.
Longman Language Activatorto tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone has done
to tell someone in authority, especially a parent or teacher, about something wrong that someone has done - used by children: · I'm going to tell if you don't stop messing around.· Please don't tell on me -- Mum thinks I've been staying at my friend's house.
also split on somebody British informal to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone has done, especially when this seems disloyal: · Can you believe he ratted on his own brother?· Don't worry, Robert's reliable. He won't split on us.
British /tattle (on somebody) American if a child tells tales or tattles on someone, they tell a parent or teacher about something another child has done in order to cause trouble: · "Mum, Daniel's broken a plate." "Don't tell tales, dear."· Sarah's teacher told her it was silly to keep tattling on her classmates.· You'll lose all your friends if you keep tattling.
to give information about a crime, an accident etc to the police or to someone in authority: · I'd like to report a theft.report something to somebody: · All accidents must be reported at once to the aviation authority.· Many rape victims are too scared to report the attack to the police.report somebody (for something): · A man has been reported for a number of alleged motoring offences.
to secretly tell the police that someone you know has done something illegal: · Charlotte informed on her brother, who was then arrested for drug-dealing.· He categorically denied that he had ever informed on dissidents.
British informal /squeal American informal to tell the police who is responsible for a crime or illegal activity when this seems disloyal: · When we got there the cops were waiting for us. Somebody must have squealed.grass on: · If the others ever found out he'd squealed on them, they'd kill him.· You grassed on us to save your own life.grass somebody up: · I don't trust her -- what if she grasses us up?
to give the police information about a crime that you know about or are involved in, especially when they are questioning you officially about it: · The suspect was questioned for two hours, but refused to talk.· He said he'd come back and kill me if I talked.
to let people know about an illegal activity which has been happening for a long time, especially when you have been helping to keep it secret: · He was shot because he knew too much and was about to blow the whistle. blow the whistle about: · It was the factory manager who eventually blew the whistle about the pollution scandal.blow the whistle on: · We'd better get her before she has a chance to blow the whistle on us.
to give the police or another authority information that will allow them to prevent a crime taking place: tip off somebody: · Somebody must have tipped off the police. They were already waiting at the house.· The alert was started by another inmate who tipped off prison staff.tip somebody off: · I wonder who tipped them off.tip somebody off that: · His contact had not merely tipped him off that drugs were on the premises, he had told him where to look.
to make public the names of people who have done something wrong: · If you don't give me the money, I'm going to start naming names.· Someone -- I won't name names -- has been caught stealing from the stores.
especially British, informal /narc especially American, informal to secretly tell the police or someone in authority about someone else's criminal activity, especially activities involving illegal drugs: · "How'd they get caught?" "Somebody must've narked."nark on: · If things get too risky, Ken'll probably narc on you to the cops.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES shark-infested waters the story of a couple who quit the rat race
shark-infested waters the story of a couple who quit the rat racePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► the rat race► in rats’ tails
1if someone rats on you, they tell someone in authority about something wrong that you have done SYN grassrat on- From Tracy Luv to Sarah-Lou, Corrie kids are as well-behaved as a plague of locusts.
- I wonder what really causes a plague of rats?
- The investor doesn't start to smell a rat until the payments aren't coming in.
- We started to smell a rat when they asked for an extra £500 deposit.
- He could smell a rat, and he knew just how the men had been cheated.
- I smell a rat here - I really do.
- I only began to smell a rat when he couldn't come up with the documents he claimed to have.
- It is enough to make you smell a rat and be damned for your cynicism.
- She felt that he was beginning to smell a rat.
- Suffice to say, we smell a rat.
They’ll kill you if they find out you’ve ratted on them!2British English to not do what you had promised to do SYN go back on, renege onrat on He accused the government of ratting on its promises to the disabled.rat somebody ↔ out American English informal if someone rats you out, they are disloyal to you, especially by telling someone in authority about something wrong that you have done: You can’t rat out your teammates.- Easterner
- Eastern Europe
- Eastern European
- easternmost
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- Easter Rising
- Easter Seals
- Easter Sunday
- East European
- East German
- East Germany
- East India Company
- Eastman, George
- East River
- East Sea
- East Side
- East Sussex
- East Timor
- East Village
- eastward
- eastwards
- East-West relations
- Eastwood, Clint
- East Yorkshire
- easy