[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/rat/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [R](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/r/) / rat

# rat

noun (a rat, rats); verb (rat on — informal, rats, ratted, ratting); interjection (Rats! — informal)

«rat» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A rodent like a large mouse, with a long thin tail, sharp teeth and grey or brown fur. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#m1)
2. (informal) A nasty, mean or disloyal person. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#m2)
3. Rat on someone (informal): tell on someone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#m3)
4. Rats!: a mild word said when something goes wrong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science, rats are mammals and rodents; they are clever and can learn mazes, and some are pets (fancy rats). In health and safety lessons: wild rats can carry germs and diseases, so don't touch them, keep food covered and bins closed; wash hands after handling pets. In history, fleas on rats spread the plague. In stories rats can be villains (the Pied Piper) or clever friends. Phrases: smell a rat (suspect a trick), like a drowned rat (soaking wet), rat race, pet rat.

### Examples

- A rat ran across the alley. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#x1)
- My friend has two pet rats called Salt and Pepper. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#x2)
- Keep the bin lid closed so rats can't get in. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#x3)
- Don't touch wild rats — they can carry disease. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#x4)
- Rats can learn their way through a maze. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#x5)
- I came home from the rain looking like a drowned rat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#x6)
- «Rats! I forgot my homework.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#x7)
- The story's detective smelled a rat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/#x8)

### Note

Countable: a rat, rats. Rats are bigger than mice and have thicker tails. Don't confuse with «rate». «Smell a rat» means to think something is a trick.

## In Jewish tradition

The rat is among the creeping things that are unclean to eat.

**Interpretation.** The tradition counts it among the forbidden animals. It is part of the laws of clean and unclean.

### Note

Countable: a rat, rats. Rats are bigger than mice and have thicker tails. Don't confuse with «rate». «Smell a rat» means to think something is a trick.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «rat» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rat/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«rat» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/rat.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «rat» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/rat/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«rat» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/rat.html) on Mova free.