parts of speech of "root rot"

[hela]

Dear teachers,

Would you please tell me how you would parse the following compounds ?

- However, do not overwater or let the plant sit in water since they are susceptible to (a) root rot and there is no "cure" for (b) root rot.

- The disease which infected the trees is (c) root rot.

a) compound verb made up of "root" a noun used as an adverb (?) + "rot" verb.
b + c) compound nouns made up of "root" a noun used as an adjective + "rot" noun.

Thank you for your help and best wishes.

 

[konungursvia]

No, it is a noun (root) used as an adjective (for the noun rot).

 

[Frank Antonson1]

The second, I think. Two nouns together. As in "crotch rot",

 

[hela]

So in all three cases "root rot" is a compound noun: "root" a noun used as adjective, and "rot" a noun ?

Thanks again

 

[Frank Antonson1]

To decide whether or not a compound noun is one item or a noun modified by an adjective, or two nouns, e.g. "dog house", I defer to a dictionary and look to see if the words are given as a single entry.