decay
1. de.cay \di-'ka-\ vb [ME decayen, fr. ONF decai:r, fr. LL decadere to
fall, sink,] fr. L de- + cadere to fall 1: to decline from a sound or
prosperous condition 2: to decrease gradually in quantity, activity, or
force 3: to fall into ruin 4: to decline in health, strength, or vigor
5: to undergo decomposition obs 1: to cause to decay : IMPAIR 2: to
destroy by decomposition mean to undergo destructive dissolution. DECAY
implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection; DECOMPOSE
stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic
matter a corruption; ROT is a close synonym of DECOMPOSE and often connotes
foulness; PUTREFY implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to
sight and smell; SPOIL applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods SYN
syn DECAY, DECOMPOSE, ROT, PUTREFY, SPOIL
2. decay n 1: gradual decline in strength, soundness, or prosperity or in
degree of ex cellence or perfection 2: a wasting or wearing away : RUIN
obs 3: DESTRUCTION, DEATH 4a: ROT; specif : aerobic decomposition of
proteins chiefly b y bacteria 4b: the product of decay 5: a decline in
health or vigor 6: decrease in quantity, activity, or force : as 6a:
spontaneous decrease in the number of radioactive atoms in radioactive
material 6b: spontaneous disintegration (as of an atom or a meson)