decomposede‧com‧pose /ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz $ -ˈpoʊz/ verb [intransitive, transitive] 
Verb Table Examples
a partially decomposed body2 technical to divide into smaller parts, or to make something do this—decomposition /ˌdiːkɒmpəˈzɪʃən $ -kɑːm-/ noun [uncountable]
Verb TableVERB TABLE
decompose
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | decompose |
| he, she, it | decomposes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | decomposed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have decomposed |
| he, she, it | has decomposed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had decomposed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will decompose |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have decomposed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am decomposing |
| he, she, it | is decomposing | |
| you, we, they | are decomposing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was decomposing |
| you, we, they | were decomposing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been decomposing |
| he, she, it | has been decomposing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been decomposing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be decomposing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been decomposing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- A dead fish in the aquarium will decompose rapidly, fouling the water badly.
- A partly decomposed body was found late Saturday.
- As household refuse decomposes, it produces an explosive gas, methane.
- Diapers don't decompose in landfills.
- As bacteria decomposed it, they released CO2 into the air.
- Five to ten sub-systems is accepted as the normal range, which can then be decomposed as required to show lower-order activities.
- I poked at its decomposing body with a long driftwood stick, working to turn it over.
- If turned, two or three times, the heap will decompose without getting too hot or becoming mildewed.
- In this way, semantic markers decompose the meanings of words into more primitive elements.
- It would decompose and could cause the pool liner to sag.
- Some minerals seem to survive more or less unaltered even after being subject to prolonged weathering, whereas others decompose very rapidly.
- The elderly in Boston and New York were decomposing in their rooms.
THESAURUS► decay
1to decay or make something decay: to be slowly destroyed by a natural chemical process – use this especially about natural things such as wood or plants, or about teeth: · The leaves decay and enrich the soil.· He had bad breath and decaying teeth.· The fabric slowly began to decay.
► rot to decay. Rot is less formal than decay and is more common in everyday English: · The fruit was left to rot on the ground.· rotting teeth· Most of the wood under the paint had rotted.· the smell of rotting vegetation (=decaying leaves and plants)
► go off British English if food goes off, it starts to smell bad and is no longer be safe to eat: · I think the milk’s gone off.· The meat smells as if it's gone off.
► spoil if food spoils, it starts to decay, so that it is no longer safe to eat. Spoil is more formal and is less common in everyday British English than go off: · Food left in the sun will quickly start to spoil.
► go mouldy British English, moldy American English to begin to have a soft green or black substance growing on the surface of the food, so that it is not good to eat anymore: · Ugh, the cheese has gone mouldy!
► decompose formal to decay – use this especially about dead plants or flesh: · leaves decomposing on the forest floor
► putrefy formal to decay and have a very bad smell – use this especially about flesh or plants: · After two days, the body was already beginning to putrefy.· putrefying meat
► biodegrade to decay naturally into substances that do not harm the environment – use this especially about man-made materials and chemicals: · Unlike many other materials, plastic does not biodegrade.
Longman Language Activatorto decay► decay if something decays , it is gradually destroyed by chemical changes - use this about dead plants or flesh, fruit or wood, or teeth: · Freezing conditions will stop most things from decaying.· Some of the apples lying on the ground had already begun to decay.· In a warm climate where flesh decays rapidly, there is more risk of infection from dead animals.· If you eat too many sweets, it'll make your teeth decay.
► rot to decay - use this especially about wood, vegetables, plants etc: · If water gets inside the woodwork, it causes it to rot.leave something to rot: · In some countries food is left to rot, while in others people are dying from hunger.rot away (=rot until it becomes extremely weak or gradually disappears): · The roof had fallen in and the floor had completely rotted away.
► decompose to decay and gradually break up - use this about dead plants or flesh: · As household refuse decomposes, it produces an explosive gas, methane.· A dead fish in the aquarium will decompose rapidly, fouling the water badly.
► go mouldy British /go moldy American if food goes mouldy , a soft green or black substance starts to grow on the surface, and it is not good to eat any more: · Throw that bread away. It's gone mouldy.· If you don't keep cheese in the fridge, it goes mouldy very quickly.
► rust if something made of iron rusts , it decays by becoming brown and rough, losing its strength, especially because it has not been protected from the damaging effects of water: · Several of the pipes have rusted and will need to be replaced.rust away (=rust until something begins to break into pieces): · Parts of the floor of the car had simply rusted away.
► corrode if metal corrodes , it decays by becoming weak and changing its colour, especially because it has not been protected from the damaging effects of chemicals: · By the time they found the wreckage of the plane, it had already started to corrode.
something that has decayed► rotten something that is rotten has decayed badly and often smells unpleasant - use this especially about wood, fruit, vegetables, plants etc: · There was a disgusting smell in the house - a bit like rotten eggs.· I wouldn't climb that tree if I were you - some of the branches look rotten.· a pile of rotten apples
► decayed decayed objects and materials are ones that are gradually being destroyed by natural chemical changes: · Bees will often build their nests in decayed wood.· Sixty years ago, the average 4 year old had 7 decayed or missing teeth.· Even the stonework on the old house was decayed and crumbling.
► decomposed decomposed flesh or plants are dead and are gradually being broken up and destroyed by natural chemical changes: decomposed body/remains: · The girl's decomposed body had been in the water for a long time.badly/partially/half decomposed: · Coal is the partially decomposed remains of forests that covered the earth millions of years ago.· Both men's bodies were badly decomposed.
► mouldy British /moldy American something that is mouldy has a soft green or black substance growing on its surface: · All there was in the fridge was a piece of mouldy cheese and some tomatoes.· The cupboards were damp and full of moldy old clothes.go mouldy: · This pizza's so old it's gone mouldy!
► rusty rusty metal has become rough and brown because it is decaying, especially because it has not been protected from the damaging effects of water and air: · A rusty old car had been abandoned at the side of the road.· I opened the rusty iron gate and walked up the path.· The bicycle looked a bit rusty, but it worked.
► corroded metal that is corroded has become weak and has changed colour, especially because it has not been protected from the damaging effects of chemicals, water, and air: · You should never use leaking or corroded batteries.· Badly corroded metal gutters and downpipes should be replaced by the plastic type.
WORD SETS► Biologyaerobic, adjectiveafterbirth, nounalgae, nounalimentary canal, nounamber, nounameba, nounamino acid, nounamoeba, nounanaconda, nounanaerobic, adjectiveandrogynous, adjectiveantibody, nounantigen, nounantitoxin, nounappendage, nounarm, nounarmour, nounasexual, adjectiveassimilation, nounatrophy, verbaviary, nounbacteria, nounbacteriology, nounbarnacle, nounbile, nounbinocular vision, nounbio-, prefixbiochemistry, nounbiodegradable, adjectivebiodiversity, nounbiohazard, nounbiological, adjectivebiological clock, nounbiology, nounbiomass, nounbiome, nounbiosphere, nounblind, nounbrain, nounbreathe, verbbreed, verbbreed, nounbreeding, nounbristle, nounbulb, nouncapsule, nouncarbohydrate, nouncarbon dioxide, nouncarnivore, nouncell, nouncellular, adjectivecellulose, nouncentral nervous system, nouncervical, adjectivecholesterol, nounchromosome, nouncirculation, nouncirculatory, adjectiveclass, nounclone, nouncold-blooded, adjectiveconceive, verbconch, nounconnective tissue, nouncopulate, verbcoral reef, nouncornea, nouncoronary, adjectivecorpuscle, nouncortex, nouncortisone, nouncowrie, nouncrab, nouncrawfish, nouncrayfish, nouncreature, nouncross, verbcrossbreed, nounculture, nouncytoplasm, noundecay, verbdecay, noundecompose, verbdefecate, verbdenizen, noundextrose, noundiaphragm, noundigest, verbdigestion, noundigestive, adjectiveDNA, noundorsal, adjectivedry rot, nounduct, noundwarf, noundwarf, adjectiveecological, adjectiveecology, nounecosystem, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbembryo, nounembryonic, adjectiveenzyme, nounepidermis, nounevolution, nounevolutionary, adjectiveexcrement, nounexcrescence, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexhale, verbexoskeleton, nounextinction, nounfaeces, nounfamily, nounfang, nounfat, nounfatty acid, nounfauna, nounfeces, nounfeed, verbfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferment, verbferment, nounfertile, adjectivefertility, nounfertilize, verbfission, nounflank, nounflatulence, nounflesh, nounfleshy, adjectiveflightless, adjectiveflora, nounfoetal, adjectivefoetus, nounfoliage, nounfossil, nounfreak, nounfreshwater, adjectivefructose, noungamete, nounganglion, noungene, noungene pool, noungenera, genetic, adjectivegenetic code, noungenetic engineering, noungenetic fingerprinting, noungenetics, noungenome, noungenus, noungestation, noungland, nounglandular, adjectiveglucose, noungluten, noungonad, noungrass snake, noungrow, verbgrowth, nounhabitat, nounhaemoglobin, nounhearing, nounheart, nounhemisphere, nounherbivore, nounhereditary, adjectiveheredity, nounhermaphrodite, nounhibernate, verbhistamine, nounhoming, adjectivehormone, nounhost, nounimpregnate, verbimpulse, nounincubate, verbindigenous, adjectiveinfected, adjectiveinfertile, adjectiveinfest, verbingest, verbinhale, verbinseminate, verbinsensate, adjectiveinsulin, nounintegument, nounintercourse, nouninterferon, nounintestine, nouninvertebrate, nouninvoluntary, adjectiveiris, nounjaw, nounjelly, nounkidney, nounkrill, nounlactate, verblactation, nounlactic acid, nounleech, nounleg, nounlesser, adjectivelichen, nounlife, nounlife cycle, nounlife form, nounligament, nounlimb, nounlimpet, nounlipid, nounliver, nounliving fossil, nounlocomotion, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmale, adjectivemale, nounmammal, nounmandible, nounmate, nounmate, verbmembrane, nounmetabolism, nounmetabolize, verbmetamorphosis, nounmicrobe, nounmicrobiology, nounmicroorganism, nounmicroscopic, adjectivemigrate, verbmigratory, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmolar, nounmorphology, nounmotor, adjectivemould, nounmouth, nounmucous membrane, nounmucus, nounmulticellular, adjectivemuscle, nounmuscular, adjectivemutant, nounmutate, verbmutation, nounnatural history, nounnatural selection, nounnature, nounneck, nounnectar, nounnerve, nounnervous, adjectivenervous system, nounneural, adjectiveneuro-, prefixneurology, nounnode, nounnose, nounnostril, nounnucleic acid, nounnucleus, nounnutrient, nounnutriment, nounoesophagus, nounoestrogen, nounolfactory, adjectiveoptic, adjectiveorgan, nounorganic, adjectiveorganic chemistry, nounorganism, nounorifice, nounossify, verbosteo-, prefixoutgrowth, nounova, ovary, nounoverwinter, verboviduct, nounoviparous, adjectiveovulate, verbovum, nounparasite, nounpathogen, nounpedigree, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenile, adjectivepenis, nounpepsin, nounperiod, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphotosynthesis, nounphylum, nounpigment, nounpigmentation, nounplankton, nounplasma, nounpollinate, verbpostnatal, adjectivepregnancy, nounpregnant, adjectivepremature, adjectiveprenatal, adjectiveproduct, nounproliferation, nounpropagate, verbprotein, nounprotoplasm, nounprotozoan, nounpuberty, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulsation, nounputrefy, verbputrid, adjectivered blood cell, nounregurgitate, verbrenal, adjectivereproduce, verbreproduction, nounreproductive, adjectiverespiration, nounrespiratory, adjectiverespire, verbretina, nounroot, nounrot, verbrot, nounruff, nounsac, nounsaliva, nounsalivary gland, nounsalivate, verbsaltwater, adjectivescale, nounscallop, nounscaly, adjectivesebaceous, adjectivesecrete, verbsecretion, nounsemen, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectiveserum, nounsex, nounsex, verbsexless, adjectivesexual intercourse, nounsheath, nounshell, nounsibling, nounskeletal, adjectiveskeleton, nounskin, nounskull, nounspasm, nounspasmodic, adjectivespecies, nounspecimen, nounsperm, nounspiderweb, nounspinal cord, nounspine, nounspineless, adjectivestarch, nounstem cell, nounstimulate, verbstimulus, nounstrain, nounsubject, nounsubspecies, nounsucker, nounsucrose, nounsweat, verbsweat, nounsweat gland, nounsymbiosis, nounsystemic, adjectivetail, nountaxonomy, nounteeth, testosterone, nountest-tube baby, nountissue, nountrachea, nountube, noununicellular, adjectiveurethra, nounuric, adjectiveurinate, verburine, nounvariety, nounvector, nounvein, nounvenom, nounvenomous, adjectiveventricle, nounvertebra, nounvertebrate, nounvivisection, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewean, verbwildlife, nounwindpipe, nounyolk, noun
a partially decomposed body2 technical to divide into smaller parts, or to make something do this—decomposition /ˌdiːkɒmpəˈzɪʃən $ -kɑːm-/ noun [uncountable]