Pronunciation: [ɹˈatha͡ʊs] (IPA) 
The word "rathouse" is spelled with the letter "r" at the beginning, followed by "a" and "t". The "h" is silent, so it is not pronounced. The next two letters, "o" and "u", are pronounced as a diphthong, making the sound /aʊ/. The final two letters, "s" and "e", are pronounced together as a syllable, making the sound /s/. The IPA phonetic transcription for "rathouse" is /ˈræthaʊs/.
There is no specific dictionary definition for the word "rathouse." However, based on the English language's word formation patterns, a reasonable interpretation of the term could be as follows:
Rathouse (noun): A compound word formed by combining the words "rat" and "house." Although not found in standard dictionaries, "rathouse" can be construed as a descriptive term referring to a dwelling or structure that is infested or associated with rats.
The prefix "rat-" signifies the rodent species commonly known as rats, which are often considered pests due to their propensity for damaging property and spreading diseases. The word "house" indicates a place of residence or shelter. Therefore, a "rathouse" implies a habitation that is overrun or inhabited by rats, highlighting the presence of these undesirable rodents within the structure.
While commonly used in informal language or dialogue, it is important to note that the term "rathouse" itself may not have an established place in formal English dictionaries. Nevertheless, given the combination of the two constituent words, the interpretation above provides an approximate definition of this word.
