decay, decompose, rot, putrefy, spoil mean to undergo destructive dissolution. decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection.

Look up decay in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

DECAY definition: 1. to become gradually damaged, worse, or less; to cause something to do this: 2. If a radioactive…. Learn more.

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.

Rot and decompose are closely synonymous with decay, but rot often emphasizes loss of structural integrity while decompose generally stresses breaking down into chemical …

Nov 1, 2025 · decay (third-person singular simple present decays, present participle decaying, simple past and past participle decayed) (intransitive) To deteriorate, to get worse, to lose …

There are 13 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun decay, six of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Discover everything about the word "DECAY" in English: meanings, translations, synonyms, pronunciations, examples, and grammar insights - all in one comprehensive guide.

decay, decompose, rot, putrefy, and spoil mean to slowly fall apart and become destroyed by natural processes. decay is the most general of these terms. It often suggests a slow change …

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 …