decay

/dɪˈkeɪ/

/dɪˈkeɪ/

Other forms: decayed; decaying; decays

To decay means to rot, decompose, break down. Our bodies—anything organic—will decay after death. Broken sidewalks, potholes, graffiti are all signs of urban decay. Tooth decay is something to avoid.

Decay can also mean decline. Anyone, even a great athlete, must exercise regularly to maintain muscle tone—as soon as you stop, the muscles begin to decay. If the strength of the cable signal coming into your house grows weaker over time, you can complain that it has decayed.

Definitions of decay

1. noun

   the organic phenomenon of rotting
   synonyms: decomposition

   type of:

   organic phenomenon

   (biology) a natural phenomenon involving living plants and animals
2. noun

   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:

   putrefaction, rot

   a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor

   decomposition, disintegration

   a decayed state

   deterioration, impairment

   a symptom of reduced quality or strength

   rancidity

   the state of being rancid; having a rancid scent or flavor (as of old cooking oil)

   fragmentation

   the disintegration of social norms governing behavior and thought and social relationships

   corruption, putrescence, putridness, rottenness

   a state of progressive putrefaction

   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

   type of:

   unsoundness

   a condition of damage or decay
3. noun

   the process of gradually becoming inferior
   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)
4. noun

   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
5. noun

   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
6. verb

   undergo decay or decomposition
   “The body started to decay and needed to be cremated”

   synonyms: degrade

   types:

   decompose, molder, moulder, rot

   break down

   go bad, spoil

   become unfit for consumption or use

   fester, putrefy

   become putrid; decay with an offensive smell

   deliquesce

   melt away in the process of decay

   biodegrade

   break down naturally through the action of biological agents

   hang

   suspend (meat) in order to get a gamey taste

   addle

   become rotten

   curdle

   go bad or sour

   type of:

   change

   undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
7. verb

   fall into decay or ruin
   “The unoccupied house started to decay”

   synonyms: crumble, dilapidate

   types:

   deteriorate

   become worse or disintegrate

   corrode, rust

   become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid

   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

   go to pot, go to the dogs

   become ruined

   eat away, fret

   wear away or erode

   wear, wear down, wear off, wear out, wear thin

   deteriorate through use or stress

   fray, frazzle

   wear away by rubbing

   type of:

   change

   undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
8. verb

   lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current
   synonyms: decompose, disintegrate

   disintegrate

   cause to undergo fission or lose particles

   type of:

   change integrity

   change in physical make-up