Rot vs Compost - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between rot and compost

is that rot is to suffer decomposition due to biological action, especially by fungi or bacteria while compost is to produce compost, let organic matter decay into fertilizer.

As nouns the difference between rot and compost

is that rot is the process of becoming rotten; putrefaction while compost is the decayed remains of organic matter that has rotted into a natural fertilizer.

rot

English

Verb

(rott)

To suffer decomposition due to biological action, especially by fungi or bacteria.

* Alexander Pope

Fixed like a plant on his peculiar spot, / To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot .

To decline in function or utility.

To deteriorate in any way.

I hope they all rot in prison for what they've done.

* Macaulay

Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons.

* Thackeray

Rot , poor bachelor, in your club.

To make putrid; to cause to be wholly or partially decomposed by natural processes.

to rot vegetable fiber

To expose, as flax, to a process of maceration, etc., for the purpose of separating the fiber; to ret.

Derived terms

* potter's rot

Noun

(en noun)

The process of becoming rotten; putrefaction.

Any of several diseases in which breakdown of tissue occurs.

* Milton

His cattle must of rot and murrain die.

Verbal nonsense.

Synonyms

* (nonsense) See also

Anagrams

* (l), (l), (l), (l), (l), (l), (l) English intransitive verbs ----

compost

English

(wikipedia compost)

Noun

The decayed remains of organic matter that has rotted into a natural fertilizer

Dig plenty of compost into clay or sandy soil to improve its structure.

* Shakespeare

And do not spread the compost on the weeds / To make them ranker.

* '>citation

(obsolete) A mixture; a compound.

* Hammond

A sad compost of more bitter than sweet.

Verb

(en verb)

To produce compost, let organic matter decay into fertilizer

If you compost your grass clippings, you can improve your soil.