| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024de•cay /dɪˈkeɪ/USA pronunciation v. - Microbiologyto (cause to) become decomposed;
rot: [ no obj]:The tree began to decay soon after it was cut down.[ ~ + obj]:Candy can decay your teeth. - [no obj] to decline in health or prosperity;
deteriorate:The transit system is rapidly decaying.
n. [uncountable] - Microbiologydecomposition;
rot:The house is in a state of decay. - a gradual and continuing decline:the decay of standards.
de•cayed, adj.: decayed timber.de•cay•ing, adj.: the smell of decaying vegetation. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024de•cay (di kā′),USA pronunciation v.i. - Microbiologyto become decomposed; rot:vegetation that was decaying.
- to decline in excellence, prosperity, health, etc.;
deteriorate. - Physics(of a radioactive nucleus) to change spontaneously into one or more different nuclei in a process in which atomic particles, as alpha particles, are emitted from the nucleus, electrons are captured or lost, or fission takes place.
v.t. - Microbiologyto cause to decay or decompose;
rot:The dampness of the climate decayed the books.
n. - Microbiologydecomposition;
rot:Decay made the wood unsuitable for use. - a gradual falling into an inferior condition;
progressive decline:the decay of international relations; the decay of the Aztec civilizations. - decline in or loss of strength, health, intellect, etc.:His mental decay is distressing.
- PhysicsAlso called disintegration, radioactive decay. a radioactive process in which a nucleus undergoes spontaneous transformation into one or more different nuclei and simultaneously emits radiation, loses electrons, or undergoes fission.
- Aerospacethe progressive, accelerating reduction in orbital parameters, particularly apogee and perigee, of a spacecraft due to atmospheric drag.
- Vulgar Latin *cadēre, for Latin cadere; (noun, nominal) late Middle English, derivative of the verb, verbal
- Old North French decair, equivalent. to de- de- + cair to fall
- (verb, verbal) late Middle English decayen 1425–75
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged degenerate, wither; putrefy. 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 esp. applied to decaying vegetable matter, which may or may not emit offensive odors:Potatoes rot.
- 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged putrefaction.
- 7.See corresponding entry in Unabridged deterioration, decadence, impairment, dilapidation, degeneration.
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