decay

[ dih-key ]
/ dɪˈkeɪ /

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

to cause to decay or decompose; rot: The dampness of the climate decayed the books.

noun

Origin of decay

1425–75; (v.) late Middle English decayen < Old North French decair, equivalent to de- de- + cair to fall < Vulgar Latin *cadēre, for Latin cadere; (noun) late Middle English, derivative of the v.

synonym study for decay

1. Decay, decompose, disintegrate, rot imply a deterioration or falling away from a sound condition. Decay implies either entire or partial deterioration by progressive natural changes: Teeth decay. Decompose suggests the reducing of a substance to its component elements: Moisture makes some chemical compounds decompose. Disintegrate emphasizes the breaking up, going to pieces, or wearing away of anything, so that its original wholeness is impaired: Rocks disintegrate. Rot is a stronger word than decay and is especially applied to decaying vegetable matter, which may or may not emit offensive odors: Potatoes rot.

OTHER WORDS FROM decay

Example sentences from the Web for decay

British Dictionary definitions for decay

decay
/ (dɪˈkeɪ) /

verb

noun

Derived forms of decay

decayable, adjective

Word Origin for decay

C15: from Old Northern French decaïr, from Late Latin dēcadere, literally: to fall away, from Latin cadere to fall

Medical definitions for decay

decay
[ dĭ-kā ]

n.

The destruction or decomposition of organic matter as a result of bacterial or fungal action; rot.
Dental caries.
The loss of information that was registered by the senses and processed into the short-term memory system.
Radioactive decay.

v.

Scientific definitions for decay

decay
[ dĭ-kā ]

Noun

The breaking down or rotting of organic matter through the action of bacteria, fungi, or other organisms; decomposition.
The spontaneous transformation of a relatively unstable particle into a set of new particles. For example, a pion decays spontaneously into a muon and an antineutrino. The decay of heavy or unstable atomic nuclei (such as uranium or carbon-10) into more stable nuclei and emitted particles is called radioactive decay. The study of particle decay is fundamental to subatomic physics. See more at fundamental force radioactive decay.

Verb

To undergo decay.