About The Word Decay

Bay Area Crosswords

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Decay

Decay Meaning & Definition
Decay Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Decay?

[n] the organic phenomenon of rotting
[n] a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
[n] the process of gradually becoming inferior
[n] the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
[n] 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"
[v] undergo decay or decomposition
[v] fall into decay or ruin; "The unoccupied house started to decay"
[v] lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current; as of particles in nuclear fission

Synonyms | Synonyms for Decay: crumble | decline | decompose | decomposition | delapidate | disintegrate | disintegration | radioactive decay

Related Terms | Find terms related to Decay: ablate | ablation | atomization | atomize | atrophy | biodegradability | biodegradation | break down | break up | breakup | canker | caries | carrion | catalysis | catalyst | collapse | come apart | consume | contaminate | corrode | corrosion | corrupt | corruption | crack up | crumble | crumble into dust | crumbling | curdle | dandruff | debilitate | decadence | decline | decompose | decomposition | decrease | defile | degenerate | degeneration | degradability | degradation | deteriorate | deterioration | dialysis | dilapidate | dilapidation | diminish | disintegrate | disintegration | disjoin | disjunction | disorganization | disorganize | dissociation | dissolution | dissolve | downfall | dry rot | dwindle | ebb | enfeeble | erode | erosion | excrement | fading | failing | fall into decay | fall to pieces | ferment | fester | filth | fission | foul matter | foulness | furfur | gangrene | go bad | go off | go to pieces | go to pot | go to seed | hydrolysis | hydrolyst | incoherence | mess | mildew | mold | molder | mortification | mortify | mould | moulder | muck | mucus | necrose | necrosis | obscenity | ordure | oxidation | oxidization | perish | photolysis | pollute | pus | putrefaction | putrefy | putresce | putrescence | putrid matter | putridity | putridness | rancidity | rancidness | rankle | rankness | ravages of time | resolution | rot | rottenness | rotting | ruin | rust | sap | scurf | scuz | slime | slough | smut | snot | sordes | sour | sphacelate | sphacelation | sphacelus | split | splitting | spoil | spoilage | suppurate | taint | thermolysis | tooth decay | turn | undermine | wane | waste away | wasting | weaken | weakening | wear | wear and tear | wear away | wither | work | wreck

See Also | action | activity | break | bust | caries | cavity | change | change integrity | corrode | corruption | decomposition | decomposition | decrease | decrement | dental caries | deteriorate | deterioration | dilapidation | disintegration | droop | eat at | erode | exponential decay | exponential return | fall apart | gnaw | gnaw at | go bad | impairment | molder | moulder | natural action | natural process | nuclear reaction | organic phenomenon | putrefaction | putrefaction | putrefy | rot | rot | rot | rotting | ruin | ruin | rust | spoil | spoilage | spoiling | tooth decay | unsoundness | wear | wear away | wear out | weather | wilt

Decay In Webster's Dictionary

\De*cay"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Decayed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Decaying}.] [OF. decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, F. d['e]choir, to decline, fall, become less; L. de- + cadere to fall. See {Chance}.] To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay; hopes decay. Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay. --Goldsmith.
\De*cay"\, v. t. 1. To cause to decay; to impair. [R.] Infirmity, that decays the wise. --Shak. 2. To destroy. [Obs.] --Shak.
\De*cay"\, n. 1. Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration; as, the decay of the body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman empire; a castle in decay. Perhaps my God, though he be far before, May turn, and take me by the hand, and more - May strengthen my decays. --Herbert. His [Johnson's] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual decay. --Macaulay. Which has caused the decay of the consonants to follow somewhat different laws. --James Byrne. 2. Destruction; death. [Obs.] --Spenser. 3. Cause of decay. [R.] He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age. --Bacon. Syn: Decline; consumption. See {Decline}.

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