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rancid

 - 5 dictionary results

ran⋅cid

  [ran-sid]
Use rancid in a Sentence
–adjective
1. having a rank, unpleasant, stale smell or taste, as through decomposition, esp. of fats or oils: rancid butter.
2. (of an odor or taste) rank, unpleasant, and stale: a rancid smell.
3. offensive or nasty; disagreeable.
Origin:
1640–50; < L rancidus rank, stinking, equiv. to ranc(ēre) to be rotten + -idus -id 4

Related forms:
ran⋅cid⋅ly, adverb
ran⋅cid⋅ness, ran⋅cid⋅i⋅ty, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To rancid
ran·cid   (rān'sĭd)   
adj.  

  1. Having the disagreeable odor or taste of decomposing oils or fats; rank.

  2. Repugnant; nasty: rancid remarks.


[Latin rancidus, from rancēre, to stink, be rotten.]
ran·cid'i·ty, ran'cid·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

rancid 
1646, from L. rancidus "rank, stinking, offensive," from rancere "be spoiled or rotten," of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ran·cid
Pronunciation: 'ran(t)-s&d
Function: adjective
: having a rank smell or taste usually from chemical change or decomposition<rancid butter>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

rancid ran·cid (rān'sĭd)
adj.
Having the disagreeable odor or taste of decomposing oils or fats.

ran·cid'i·ty or ran'cid·ness n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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