dry rot

• 一种真菌性腐朽，会使木材变得干燥、脆弱、易碎，常出现在通风不良或潮湿的建筑中。也用于比喻组织或体制逐渐衰败或腐败。

A fungal decay that causes wood to become dry, brittle, and crumbly, often found in buildings with poor ventilation or damp conditions. Also used figuratively to describe a gradual decline or corruption in an organization or system.

1. Fungal decay in woodB2formal

   A type of fungal decay that attacks timber in buildings, causing it to become brittle and crumble.

   干腐

   • The old house had to be repaired because of dry rot in the floorboards.
   • Dry rot can spread quickly if the wood is damp.
   • The carpenter identified dry rot in the wooden beams.

2. Moral or social decayC1formalbritish

   A gradual deterioration of moral principles, values, or social structures.

   道德腐败

   • The corruption scandal was a sign of dry rot in the government.
   • Dry rot in society often starts with small ethical compromises.
   • The novel explores the dry rot of the aristocracy.