adj. 1. Decomposed and foul-smelling; rotten: putrid meat. 2. Proceeding from, relating to, or exhibiting putrefaction: a putrid odor. 3. Morally rotten; corrupt: "and all the while scarlet thoughts, putrid fantasies, and no love" (Louis Auchincloss). 4. Of extremely poor quality; atrocious or contemptible: a good play ruined by putrid acting. [Middle English putred, from Old French putride, from Latin putridus, from putrēre, to be rotten, from puter, putr-, rotten; see p- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] pu·tridi·ty (-trĭdĭ-tē), putrid·ness (-trĭd-nĭs) n. putrid·ly adv. |
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