/ Dictionary / Index R rotenone: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: ro•te•none Pronunciation: (rōt'n-ōn"), [key] — n. Chem., Pharm. a white, crystalline, water-insoluble, poisonous heterocyclic compound, CHO, obtained from derris root: used chiefly as the active ingredient of certain insecticides and in medicine in the treatment of chiggers and scabies. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: rotenone (Thesaurus) rote rotgut Related Content Daily Word Quiz: placid Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language