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)

单词	decays
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) decays verb present tense third-person singular of decay 1 as in decomposes to go through decomposition the logs decayed on the rain forest floor the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance decomposes disintegrates rots perishes deteriorates corrupts festers molds putrefies crumbles descends spoils turns molders sours runs to seed breaks down falls apart rusts contaminates ferments fouls pollutes goes to seed taints mortifies defiles sinks curdles degenerates withers turns off declines addles dilapidates Antonyms & Near Antonyms grows matures ripens ages develops restores refreshes renews purifies cleanses integrates improves composes assembles ameliorates betters meliorates See More 2 as in deteriorates to become worse or of less value the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years Synonyms & Similar Words deteriorates crumbles descends declines worsens diminishes sinks rots atrophies degenerates devolves regresses disintegrates decomposes ebbs weakens retrogrades falls recedes runs to seed degrades wanes sags dwindles goes to pot goes to seed sours corrupts reduces putrefies abates slips downsizes droops undermines languishes spoils molders lags de-escalates wilts breaks down debilitates runs down dilapidates lessens lowers fails flags wastes (away) Antonyms & Near Antonyms improves ameliorates progresses intensifies upgrades enriches enhances develops meliorates strengthens heightens proceeds fortifies advances marches betters See More 3 as in fades to lose bodily strength or vigor having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying Synonyms & Similar Words fades weakens sags goes sinks deteriorates fails droops wilts lags withers languishes flags rots emaciates yields breaks down degenerates wastes (away) wears out runs down Antonyms & Near Antonyms recovers recuperates rebounds rallies gains convalesces
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decay

verb

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing decay

Kids Definition

verb

noun

Medical Definition

intransitive verb

noun

verb