decay Meaning & Definition
What Does Decay Mean?
Decay is used as a noun meaning Rot; any processes or result of organic matter being gradually decomposed, especially by microbial action. It is also used to mean Deterioration of condition; loss of status, quality, strength, or fortune. As a verb, it means To deteriorate, to get worse, to lose strength or health, to decline in quality. As a verb, it means (of organic material) To rot, to go bad.
Word Facts for Decay
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /dɪˈkeɪ/ |
| Synonyms | decline, disintegration and disintegrate |
| Plural | decays |
| Verb forms | decays, decaying, decayed |
Decay Definition (Noun)
- Rot; any processes or result of organic matter being gradually decomposed, especially by microbial action.
tooth decay/dental decay—wood-decay fungi—bacterial decay—photochemical decay
- Deterioration of condition; loss of status, quality, strength, or fortune.
civic and moral decay—systemic decay—fall into decay—urban decay—arrested decay—memory decay
- Radioactive decay; decomposition of an atom or its nucleus.
alpha decay—gamma decay—fission decay—decay chain
- Particle decay; decomposition of a sub-atomic particle.
- Continuous decrease of a quantity.
exponential decay—decay rate—orbital decay—decay time—decay constant—time decay
- Overthrow, destruction, ruin, death.
- Array decay.
Decay as a Verb
- To deteriorate, to get worse, to lose strength or health, to decline in quality.
The pair loved to take pictures in the decaying hospital on forty-third street.
- To undergo bit rot, that is, gradual degradation.
- To undergo software rot, that is, to fail to be updated in a changing environment, so as to eventually become legacy or obsolete.
- To undergo prolonged reduction in altitude (above the orbited body).
- To rot, to go bad.
The cat's body decayed rapidly.
- To change by undergoing fission, by emitting radiation, or by capturing or losing one or more electrons; to undergo radioactive decay.
- To undergo optical decay, that is, to relax to a less excited state, usually by emitting a photon or phonon.
- Loss of airspeed due to drag.
- To cause to rot or deteriorate.
The extreme humidity decayed the wooden sculptures in the museum's collection in a matter of years.
- Of an array: to lose its type and dimensions and be reduced to a pointer, for example when passed to a function.
Noun
- The process or result of being gradually decomposed.
- A deterioration of condition; loss of status or fortune.
Verb
- (of organic material) To rot, to go bad.
The cat's body decayed rapidly.
- (of an unstable atom) To change by undergoing fission, by emitting radiation, or by capturing or losing one or more electrons.
- (of a quantum system) To undergo optical decay, that is, to relax to a less excited state, usually by emitting a photon or phonon.
Synonyms of Decay
Decay synonyms and antonyms →Decay in a Sentence
tooth decay/dental decay—wood-decay fungi—bacterial decay—photochemical decay
civic and moral decay—systemic decay—fall into decay—urban decay—arrested decay—memory decay
alpha decay—gamma decay—fission decay—decay chain
exponential decay—decay rate—orbital decay—decay time—decay constant—time decay
The pair loved to take pictures in the decaying hospital on forty-third street.
The cat's body decayed rapidly.
The extreme humidity decayed the wooden sculptures in the museum's collection in a matter of years.
Word Forms & Grammar
decay (usually uncountable, plural decays)
decay (third-person singular simple present decays, present participle decaying, simple past and past participle decayed)
Words That Rhyme With Decay
Origin of Decay
From Middle English decaien (“to decrease, diminish”) and decai (“deterioration, decline in value”), from Anglo-Norman decaeir (“to fall away, decay, decline”), from Vulgar Latin *dēcadere, etymologically restored form of Latin dēcidere (“to fall down, to fail, sink or perish”), from de- (“of, from, away, down”) + cadere (“to fall”). Compare decadent and decadence.
Questions People Ask About Decay
Is decay a noun or a verb?
Decay is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for decay?
You can replace decay with words such as decline, disintegration and disintegrate. See the full list of decay synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of decay?
The plural of decay is decays.
What is the past tense of decay?
The past tense of decay is decayed. The present participle is decaying.