rattˈiness noun

The quality of being rat-like or ratty

rattˈing noun

1. Apostasy
2. Rat-hunting

rattˈish adjective

1. Rat-like
2. Rat-infested

rattˈy (rattˈier; rattˈiest) adjective

1. Rat-like
2. Rat-infested
3. Wretched
4. Unkempt, untidy
5. Angry, irritable (informal)

ratˈ-arsed adjective (vulgar sl)

Drunk

ratˈbag noun (slang)

1. A term of abuse
2. A despicable person

ratˈbite fever noun

A disease caused by infection with bacteria conveyed by the bite of a rat

ratˈ-catcher noun

1. A professional killer of rats
2. Unconventional hunting garb (slang)

ratˈ-catching noun

ratˈfish noun

1. Another name for rabbitfish (see under rabbit¹)
2. An edible chimera of the N Pacific (Hydrolagus colliei)

ratˈ-flea noun

A flea that infests rats

ratˈ-guard noun

A metal disc put on a hawser to prevent rats from boarding a ship in port

ratˈhole noun

ratˈ-hunting noun

ratˈ-kangaroo noun

The potoroo, a marsupial of various species about the size of a rabbit, related to the kangaroo

ratˈpack noun (slang)

1. A rowdy gang of young people
2. A group of photographers aggressively pursuing famous people

ratˈ-pit noun

An enclosure where rats are worried by dogs

ratˈ-poison noun

Any poison for rats

ratˈproof adjective

rat race noun

1. A continual round of hectic and futile activity
2. The scramble to get on in the world by fair means or foul

rat run noun (informal)

A minor road heavily used by traffic trying to avoid major road congestion

ratsˈbane noun

1. Poison for rats, esp white arsenic
2. A name for many poisonous plants

rat snake noun

Any of several rodent-eating colubrid snakes, esp of the S Asian genus Ptyas, or the N American Elaphe

rat'sˈ-tail or ratˈ-tail noun

1. The tail of a rat
2. Anything like a rat's tail
3. A thin coherent dangling lock of hair
4. An excrescence on a horse's leg
5. (ratˈ-tail) the grenadier fish

rat'sˈ-tail, ratˈ-tail or ratˈ-tailed adjective

1. Having a tail like a rat
2. Like a rat's tail
3. (of a spoon) ridged along the back of the bowl

rat trap noun

1. A trap for catching rats
2. A toothed bicycle pedal
3. An unpleasantly restricting situation

rat on

1. To inform against (also rat out)
2. To betray the interests of
3. To desert

smell a rat

To have a suspicion that something is afoot