Reading Theme:

Language:

Font Size:

📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Rat Meaning: Definition, Examples & Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：a small rodent with a long tail (rat)

rat 🔊

/ræt/

A small furry animal with a long tail, often found in cities. It's bigger than a mouse.

Brown rat on urban street with long tail

a small rodent with a long tail 🔊

➕

/ə smɔːl ˈroʊdənt wɪð ə lɔːŋ teɪl/

A rat is a medium-sized rodent, larger than a mouse, often found in urban areas. It has a pointed snout, long hairless tail, and sharp teeth.

📁 Category：Animal Protection 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'ræt', probably related to Latin 'rodere' (to gnaw).

💡 Mnemonic

A rat 'rats' on its mates — same word, two meanings: one furry, one shady.

📖 Example

My little brother saw a rat near the dustbin in the park and ran away screaming. 🔊 My little brother saw a rat near the dustbin in the park and ran away screaming.

🔗 Collocations

rat infestation – a large number of rats in a place, causing problems

rat poison – a toxic substance used to kill rats

rat race – a competitive and stressful way of life, especially in business

🔄 Synonyms

rodent (n.) – any small mammal with sharp front teeth, like rats or mice

mouse (n.) – a small rodent similar to a rat but smaller

vermin (n.) – destructive or disease-carrying animals, including rats

🚫 Antonyms

pet (n.) – a domesticated animal kept for companionship, opposite of a pest

🌱 Derivatives

rattery (n.) – a place where rats are bred or kept

ratter (n.) – a dog that kills rats

ratty (adj.) – like a rat; shabby or irritable

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'rat' dates back to Old English. In medieval Europe, rats were infamous carriers of the Black Death. Today, 'rat' also means an informer, originating from underworld slang in the 19th century.

Meaning 2：an informer or traitor (rat)

rat 🔊

/ræt/

A person who tells secrets about their friends to authorities, like a traitor.

an informer or traitor 🔊

➕

/ən ɪnˈfɔːrmər ɔːr ˈtreɪtər/

A 'rat' is a person who betrays their group or friends by reporting secret information to an authority, often for personal benefit.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Someone ratted on us to the teacher about the surprise party, so it's not a secret anymore. 🔊 Someone informed on us to the teacher about the surprise party, so it's not a secret anymore.

🔗 Collocations

rat someone out – to inform on someone to an authority

turn rat – to become an informer, especially in criminal contexts

like a rat in a trap – in a situation with no escape; also used metaphorically for desperate betrayal

🔄 Synonyms

informer (n.) – a person who gives information about someone's illegal activities to the police

traitor (n.) – a person who betrays their country, group, or friends

snitch (n.) – a slang term for an informer

🚫 Antonyms

ally (n.) – a person who supports and stands by you, opposite of a traitor

confidant (n.) – a trusted person to whom secrets are told, opposite of someone who betrays secrets

🌱 Derivatives

ratted (adj.) – past tense of 'rat' as a verb, meaning informed on

ratting (n.) – the act of informing on someone