A rat is a small animal like a mouse, but bigger. It often lives in cities or near food places. People usually do not want rats inside their homes.
The rat ran fast in the alley.
We saw a rat near the old barn.
In a negative sense, a rat is someone who gives information about others in a bad way. It means a person cannot be trusted and may cause harm by telling secrets.
He is a rat who told on his friends.
Don’t be a rat and tell the secret.
To rat means to tell someone in power about bad or secret things that others do. It is like telling on someone to get them in trouble.
He ratted on his classmates to the teacher.
She ratted after she saw the crime.
In engineering, a rat is a tool part that holds or stops a moving part. It helps control motion by catching or locking a piece in position.
The machine's rat stopped the wheel from moving.
Install the rat to lock the gear in place.
In old or rare usage, rat can mean rate, which is how fast something happens. This meaning is unusual and mostly seen in old texts or dialects.
The rat of change was very fast.
The rat of growth increased this year.
Rat can mean a person who is annoying or causes problems. It is an informal way to say someone is bad or unpleasant.
That kid is a little rat sometimes.
Don’t be a rat and stop annoying us.
In dance and theatre, a rat is a small wig or hairpiece attached to the hair to add volume or style. It is used for special looks.
The dancer wore a rat to cover her hair.
He bought a rat for his costume today.
