decay - Definition | Dictionary definition of decay

Definition of decay

Verbs

lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current

Synonyms:: decompose, disintegrate

Type of:: change integrity
change in physical make-up

fall into decay or ruin

"The unoccupied house started to decay"

Synonyms:: crumble, dilapidate

Types:: show 11 types...; hide 11 types...; deteriorate
become worse or disintegrate; go to pot, go to the dogs
become ruined; wear, wear down, wear off, wear out, wear thin
deteriorate through use or stress; corrode, rust
become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid; eat away, fret
wear away or erode; weather
change under the action or influence of the weather; eat at, erode, gnaw, gnaw at, wear away
become ground down or deteriorate; droop, wilt
become limp; ruin
fall into ruin; break, bust, fall apart, wear, wear out
go to pieces; fray, frazzle
wear away by rubbing

Type of:: change
undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature

undergo decay or decomposition

"The body started to decay and needed to be cremated"

Types:: show 8 types...; hide 8 types...; decompose, molder, moulder, rot
break down; biodegrade
break down naturally through the action of biological agents; hang
suspend (meat) in order to get a gamey taste; go bad, spoil
become unfit for consumption or use; addle
become rotten; curdle
go bad or sour; putrefy
become putrid; decay with an offensive smell; deliquesce
melt away in the process of decay

Type of:: change
undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature

Nouns

the process of gradually becoming inferior

Types:: show 7 types...; hide 7 types...; caries, cavity, dental caries, tooth decay
soft decayed area in a tooth; progressive decay can lead to the death of a tooth; corruption
decay of matter (as by rot or oxidation); decomposition, putrefaction, rot, rotting
(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action; dilapidation, ruin
the process of becoming dilapidated; spoilage, spoiling
the process of becoming spoiled; mildew, mold, mould
the process of becoming mildewed; souring
the process of becoming sour

Type of:: action, activity, natural action, natural process
a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)

a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current

Synonyms:: decline

Types:: exponential decay, exponential return
a decrease that follows an exponential function; relaxation, relaxation behavior
(physics) the exponential return of a system to equilibrium after a disturbance

Type of:: decrease, decrement
a process of becoming smaller or shorter

the organic phenomenon of rotting

Synonyms:: decomposition

Type of:: organic phenomenon
(biology) a natural phenomenon involving living plants and animals

an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying

"the corpse was in an advanced state of decay"

"the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair"

Types:: show 10 types...; hide 10 types...; putrefaction, rot
a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor; corruption, putrescence, putridness, rottenness
in a state of progressive putrefaction; decomposition, disintegration
in a decomposed state; fragmentation
the disintegration of social norms governing behavior and thought and social relationships; deterioration, impairment
a symptom of reduced quality or strength; corrosion
a state of deterioration in metals caused by oxidation or chemical action; desolation, devastation
the state of being decayed or destroyed; decrepitude, dilapidation
a state of deterioration due to old age or long use; wear
impairment resulting from long use; rancidity
the state of being rancid; having a rancid scent or flavor (as of old cooking oil)

Type of:: unsoundness
a condition of damage or decay

the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation

Synonyms:: disintegration, radioactive decay

Types:: alpha decay
radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of an alpha particle; beta decay
radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of a beta particle

Type of:: nuclear reaction
(physics) a process that alters the energy or structure or composition of atomic nuclei

Vocabulary Lists for decay

suppliant
adjure
woe
slay
suborn

embroider
imbue
ignominy
decapitate
scaffold

estranged
scaffold
gesticulate
pillory
stigma

habituate
neutralised
coherently
corrode
predispose

three-toed sloth
sloth
two-toed sloth
harpy eagle
sambar

spectacular
preserve
reptile
feces
paleontology

noxious
spur
speck
bound
repugnance

ablation
abnormal
abrasion
abrupt
absolute

scarecrow
woodman
tip
bug
emerald

Words that contain decay

alpha decay

beta decay

decayable

decayed

exponential decay

radioactive decay

tooth decay