decay
About 11.14 uses per million words.
Meaning
- 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
- noun 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
- noun Radioactive decay; decomposition of an atom or its nucleus.
alpha decay—gamma decay—fission decay—decay chain
- noun Particle decay; decomposition of a sub-atomic particle.
- noun Continuous decrease of a quantity.
exponential decay—decay rate—orbital decay—decay time—decay constant—time decay
- noun Overthrow, destruction, ruin, death.
- noun Array decay.
- 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.
Similar words
crumble decline disintegration disintegrate decompose decomposition radioactive decay delapidate spoilage disrepair
Often followed by
of and in is rate time to or constant
Word family
decayed decayer decayers decaying decays
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