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- pronunciation:
- dih
keI
- parts of speech:
- verb, noun
- features:
- Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
decays, decaying, decayed |
| definition 1: |
When a living thing decays, it breaks down through a slow, natural process. Plants begin to decay when they die. Often, when things decay, there is a bad smell.
Fallen leaves decay on the forest floor.As the old potatoes decayed in the bin, they began to smell really bad.- synonyms:
- rot, spoil
- similar words:
- deteriorate
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| definition 2: |
When something decays, it loses health or strength. When someone's health decays, it means that their health is getting bad.
The man's health decayed during his long illness.The two women's friendship decayed after they had a big argument and stopped talking to each other.- synonyms:
- decline, fail, wane
- similar words:
- weaken
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| related words: |
decline, degrade, spoil |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
Decay is a process that occurs in nature. It is the process of a living thing slowing breaking down. After a plant dies, for example, the process of decay begins.
Keeping vegetables in the refrigerator slows down decay, but it doesn't stop it.- similar words:
- erosion, ruin
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| definition 2: |
When something is in decay, it means that it is slowly getting weak or bad.
That old house is in decay because no one lives there, and nobody takes care of it.- synonyms:
- deterioration, ruin
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| derivation: |
decayable (adj.) |
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