decay

1 of 2

verb

de·cay di-ˈkā How to pronounce decay (audio)

decayed; decaying; decays

intransitive verb

: to undergo decomposition

decaying fruit

Her teeth were decaying.

… most isotopes of copper decay quickly, but two are stable: Cu-63 and Cu-65.

David E. Thomas

: to decline in health, strength, or vigor

Her mind is beginning to decay with age.

believes that the moral fiber of our society is decaying

: to fall into ruin

the city's decaying neighborhoods

: to decline from a sound or prosperous condition

a decaying empire

: to decrease usually gradually in size, quantity, activity, or force

The three voices … decayed and died out upon her ear.

Thomas Hardy

transitive verb

: to destroy by decomposition

wood decayed by bacteria

obsolete : to cause to decay : impair

Infirmity, that decays the wise …

William Shakespeare

decayer noun

decay

2 of 2

noun

: rot

The material is … resistant to fire, decay and termites …

Jack McClintock

specifically : aerobic decomposition of proteins chiefly by bacteria

: the product of decay

tooth decay

: gradual decline in strength, soundness, or prosperity or in degree of excellence or perfection

the decay of the public school system

: a decline in health or vigor

mental decay

: a wasting or wearing away : ruin

a neighborhood that had fallen into decay

: decrease in quantity, activity, or force: such as

chemistry : spontaneous decrease in the number of radioactive atoms in radioactive material

physics : spontaneous disintegration (as of an atom or a particle)

obsolete : destruction, death

… sullen presage of your own decay.

Shakespeare

Example Sentences

Verb the smell of decaying rubbish dead plants and leaves decayed by bacteria She believes that the moral fiber of our society is decaying. our decaying public school system The city's neighborhoods are decaying. Noun the decay of dead plants and leaves She writes about the moral decay of our society. the patient's physical and mental decay The city's neighborhoods are in slow decay. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

With her departure, the house resigns itself to neglect and decay.

Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Normally nutrients taken up by plants from the soil are put back when the plants dies and decay.

Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Aug. 2022 Well, these smaller nuclei come in the form of elements like cesium, strontium, iodide, and plutonium—all which have varying abilities to live in the environment (whether preferring air, water, or soil), and decay at different rates.

Miriam Fauzia, Popular Mechanics, 17 Aug. 2022 Sun damage, rot, and wear from general use can cause wood to decay and split, posing safety risks and creating visual eyesores.

Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2022 Roads, bridges, power stations, and water treatment plants decay at the same time as storms worsen.

Glen Retief, The New Republic, 11 May 2022 The original boosters were shown to increase antibody levels to a peak about two weeks after the shot, then decay steadily over the following three months.

Rachel Gutman-wei, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2022 The first is that different organs decay at different rates, and the pH of certain organs will fall below the critical threshold of 6.4.

Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 9 Aug. 2022 Its radioactive particles decay in the lungs, releasing small bursts of radiation.

Maya Miller, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2022

Noun

And there was always this constant force of decay on it because it had been forgotten over the years.

Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2022 The footage, the company said, contains evidence of decay.

Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Investigators saw tire marks outside the property and took a closer look, stumbling upon the scent of decay and, behind the back stoop, Fletcher's remains.

Fox News, 7 Sep. 2022 Perhaps the true dragon was a slow decay of the coöperative ethos.

Nick Romeo, The New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2022 Their spread exemplifies the decay of Oxford Street.

Alexander Smith, NBC News, 15 Aug. 2022 Crickets help speed the decay of organic matter like dead animals, insects and leaves.

Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2022 The source of the heat is presumed to be the decay of radioactive elements and confirms the high level of radioactivity previously measured in samples of lunar soil.

Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2021 Unfortunately, recent increases in the Sun’s solar activity appear to have accelerated its orbital decay.

Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 17 July 2022 See More

Kids Definition

decay 1 of 2

verb

de·cay di-ˈkā How to pronounce decay (audio)

decayed; decaying

: to break down or cause to break down slowly by natural processes

Fruit decayed on the ground.

Sugar decays teeth.

: to slowly worsen in condition

The old theater decayed.

decay

2 of 2

noun

: the process or result of slowly breaking down by natural processes

The schoolhouse being deserted soon fell to decay …

Washington Irving, "Sleepy Hollow"

: a gradual worsening in condition

a decay in manners

: a natural change of a radioactive element into another form of the same element or into a different element

Medical Definition

decay 1 of 2

intransitive verb

de·cay di-ˈkā How to pronounce decay (audio)

: to undergo decomposition

transitive verb

: to destroy by decomposition

decay

2 of 2

noun

: rot sense 1

specifically : aerobic decomposition of proteins chiefly by bacteria

: the product of decay

: spontaneous decrease in the number of radioactive atoms in radioactive material

: spontaneous disintegration (as of an atom or a nuclear particle)

decay 1 of 2

noun

as in deterioration

a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body middle-aged people who fervently hope that daily exercise will arrest the physical decay that usually accompanies advancing age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

deterioration
decaying
weakening
degeneration
decline
ebbing
exhaustion
atrophy
debilitation
enfeeblement
declension
descent
regression
relapse
drooping
limping
flagging
setback

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

improvement
rehabilitation
recovery
revitalization
recuperation
progress
strengthening
comeback
rally
rejuvenation
invigoration
snapback
rejuvenescence

as in decomposition

the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances the cycle by which the decay of dead plants on the forest floor provides soil and nutrients for the next generation of plants

Synonyms & Similar Words

decomposition
rot
putrefaction
disintegration
fermentation
spoilage
putrescence
corruption
festering
crumbling
breakdown
dissolution
curdling
souring
moldering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

maturation
growth
ripening

decay

2 of 2

verb

as in to rot

to go through decomposition the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber

Synonyms & Similar Words

rot
decompose
disintegrate
mold
perish
putrefy
deteriorate
corrupt
fester
spoil
fall apart
molder
crumble
foul
rust
sour
descend
break down
run to seed
contaminate
turn
ferment
degenerate
taint
pollute
decline
go to seed
defile
turn off
wither
sink
dilapidate
mortify
curdle
addle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grow
ripen
mature
age
develop
restore
refresh
renew
improve
cleanse
purify
integrate
better
ameliorate
assemble
compose
meliorate

as in to deteriorate

to become worse or of less value the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years

Synonyms & Similar Words

deteriorate
decline
crumble
worsen
rot
descend
degenerate
atrophy
diminish
sink
ebb
devolve
regress
retrograde
disintegrate
sag
weaken
decompose
fall
run to seed
recede
degrade
wane
putrefy
sour
dilapidate
dwindle
go to pot
reduce
corrupt
go to seed
abate
downsize
molder
spoil
slip
undermine
languish
lower
lag
droop
lessen
wilt
break down
run down
debilitate
flag
de-escalate
fail
waste (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

improve
ameliorate
better
upgrade
enhance
intensify
progress
enrich
strengthen
heighten
develop
meliorate
proceed
march
advance
fortify

as in to fade

to lose bodily strength or vigor having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying

Synonyms & Similar Words

fade
sag
weaken
sink
go
deteriorate
fail
wither
droop
languish
lag
wilt
rot
emaciate
flag
waste (away)
degenerate
wear out
yield
break down
run down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

recover
rebound
gain
recuperate
rally
convalesce

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of decay are decompose, putrefy, rot, and spoil. While all these words mean "to undergo destructive dissolution," decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection.

a decaying mansion

While the synonyms decompose and decay are close in meaning, decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption.

the strong odor of decomposing vegetation

In some situations, the words putrefy and decay are roughly equivalent. However, putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell.

corpses putrefying on the battlefield

Rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness.

fruit was left to rot in warehouses

The meanings of spoil and decay largely overlap; however, spoil applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods.

keep the ham from spoiling

单词	decay
释义	decay 1 of 2 verb de·cay di-ˈkā decayed; decaying; decays intransitive verb 1 : to undergo decomposition decaying fruit Her teeth were decaying. … most isotopes of copper decay quickly, but two are stable: Cu-63 and Cu-65. David E. Thomas 2 : to decline in health, strength, or vigor Her mind is beginning to decay with age. believes that the moral fiber of our society is decaying 3 : to fall into ruin the city's decaying neighborhoods 4 : to decline from a sound or prosperous condition a decaying empire 5 : to decrease usually gradually in size, quantity, activity, or force The three voices … decayed and died out upon her ear. Thomas Hardy transitive verb 1 : to destroy by decomposition wood decayed by bacteria 2 obsolete : to cause to decay : impair Infirmity, that decays the wise … William Shakespeare decayer noun decay 2 of 2 noun 1 a : rot The material is … resistant to fire, decay and termites … Jack McClintock specifically : aerobic decomposition of proteins chiefly by bacteria b : the product of decay tooth decay 2 : gradual decline in strength, soundness, or prosperity or in degree of excellence or perfection the decay of the public school system 3 : a decline in health or vigor mental decay 4 : a wasting or wearing away : ruin a neighborhood that had fallen into decay 5 : decrease in quantity, activity, or force: such as a chemistry : spontaneous decrease in the number of radioactive atoms in radioactive material b physics : spontaneous disintegration (as of an atom or a particle) 6 obsolete : destruction, death … sullen presage of your own decay. Shakespeare Synonyms Verb break down corrupt decompose disintegrate fester foul mold molder perish [chiefly British] putrefy rot spoil Noun debilitation decaying declension decline degeneration descent deterioration ebbing enfeeblement weakening See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb the smell of decaying rubbish dead plants and leaves decayed by bacteria She believes that the moral fiber of our society is decaying. our decaying public school system The city's neighborhoods are decaying. Noun the decay of dead plants and leaves She writes about the moral decay of our society. the patient's physical and mental decay The city's neighborhoods are in slow decay. See More Recent Examples on the Web Verb With her departure, the house resigns itself to neglect and decay. Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Normally nutrients taken up by plants from the soil are put back when the plants dies and decay. Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Aug. 2022 Well, these smaller nuclei come in the form of elements like cesium, strontium, iodide, and plutonium—all which have varying abilities to live in the environment (whether preferring air, water, or soil), and decay at different rates. Miriam Fauzia, Popular Mechanics, 17 Aug. 2022 Sun damage, rot, and wear from general use can cause wood to decay and split, posing safety risks and creating visual eyesores. Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2022 Roads, bridges, power stations, and water treatment plants decay at the same time as storms worsen. Glen Retief, The New Republic, 11 May 2022 The original boosters were shown to increase antibody levels to a peak about two weeks after the shot, then decay steadily over the following three months. Rachel Gutman-wei, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2022 The first is that different organs decay at different rates, and the pH of certain organs will fall below the critical threshold of 6.4. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 9 Aug. 2022 Its radioactive particles decay in the lungs, releasing small bursts of radiation. Maya Miller, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2022 Noun And there was always this constant force of decay on it because it had been forgotten over the years. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2022 The footage, the company said, contains evidence of decay. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Investigators saw tire marks outside the property and took a closer look, stumbling upon the scent of decay and, behind the back stoop, Fletcher's remains. Fox News, 7 Sep. 2022 Perhaps the true dragon was a slow decay of the coöperative ethos. Nick Romeo, The New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2022 Their spread exemplifies the decay of Oxford Street. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 15 Aug. 2022 Crickets help speed the decay of organic matter like dead animals, insects and leaves. Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2022 The source of the heat is presumed to be the decay of radioactive elements and confirms the high level of radioactivity previously measured in samples of lunar soil. Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2021 Unfortunately, recent increases in the Sun’s solar activity appear to have accelerated its orbital decay. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 17 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Verb and Noun Middle English, from Anglo-French decaïr, from Late Latin decadere to fall, sink, from Latin de- + cadere to fall — more at chance First Known Use Verb 15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 4 Noun 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Phrases Containing decay fall into decay beta decay fall into decay beta decay Kids Definition decay 1 of 2 verb de·cay di-ˈkā decayed; decaying 1 : to break down or cause to break down slowly by natural processes Fruit decayed on the ground. Sugar decays teeth. 2 : to slowly worsen in condition The old theater decayed. decay 2 of 2 noun 1 : the process or result of slowly breaking down by natural processes The schoolhouse being deserted soon fell to decay … Washington Irving, "Sleepy Hollow" 2 : a gradual worsening in condition a decay in manners 3 : a natural change of a radioactive element into another form of the same element or into a different element Medical Definition decay 1 of 2 intransitive verb de·cay di-ˈkā : to undergo decomposition transitive verb : to destroy by decomposition decay 2 of 2 noun 1 a : rot sense 1 specifically : aerobic decomposition of proteins chiefly by bacteria b : the product of decay 2 a : spontaneous decrease in the number of radioactive atoms in radioactive material b : spontaneous disintegration (as of an atom or a nuclear particle) decay 1 of 2 noun 1 as in deterioration a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body middle-aged people who fervently hope that daily exercise will arrest the physical decay that usually accompanies advancing age Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance deterioration decaying weakening degeneration decline ebbing exhaustion atrophy debilitation enfeeblement declension descent regression relapse drooping limping flagging setback Antonyms & Near Antonyms improvement rehabilitation recovery revitalization recuperation progress strengthening comeback rally rejuvenation invigoration snapback rejuvenescence See More 2 as in decomposition the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances the cycle by which the decay of dead plants on the forest floor provides soil and nutrients for the next generation of plants Synonyms & Similar Words decomposition rot putrefaction disintegration fermentation spoilage putrescence corruption festering crumbling breakdown dissolution curdling souring moldering Antonyms & Near Antonyms maturation growth ripening decay 2 of 2 verb 1 as in to rot to go through decomposition the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber Synonyms & Similar Words rot decompose disintegrate mold perish putrefy deteriorate corrupt fester spoil fall apart molder crumble foul rust sour descend break down run to seed contaminate turn ferment degenerate taint pollute decline go to seed defile turn off wither sink dilapidate mortify curdle addle Antonyms & Near Antonyms grow ripen mature age develop restore refresh renew improve cleanse purify integrate better ameliorate assemble compose meliorate See More 2 as in to deteriorate to become worse or of less value the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years Synonyms & Similar Words deteriorate decline crumble worsen rot descend degenerate atrophy diminish sink ebb devolve regress retrograde disintegrate sag weaken decompose fall run to seed recede degrade wane putrefy sour dilapidate dwindle go to pot reduce corrupt go to seed abate downsize molder spoil slip undermine languish lower lag droop lessen wilt break down run down debilitate flag de-escalate fail waste (away) Antonyms & Near Antonyms improve ameliorate better upgrade enhance intensify progress enrich strengthen heighten develop meliorate proceed march advance fortify See More 3 as in to fade to lose bodily strength or vigor having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying Synonyms & Similar Words fade sag weaken sink go deteriorate fail wither droop languish lag wilt rot emaciate flag waste (away) degenerate wear out yield break down run down Antonyms & Near Antonyms recover rebound gain recuperate rally convalesce Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of decay are decompose, putrefy, rot, and spoil. While all these words mean "to undergo destructive dissolution," decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection. a decaying mansion While the synonyms decompose and decay are close in meaning, decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption. the strong odor of decomposing vegetation In some situations, the words putrefy and decay are roughly equivalent. However, putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell. corpses putrefying on the battlefield Rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness. fruit was left to rot in warehouses The meanings of spoil and decay largely overlap; however, spoil applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods. keep the ham from spoiling
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decay

verb

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing decay

Kids Definition

verb

noun

Medical Definition

intransitive verb

noun

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser