decays;
decayed;
decaying
decays;
decayed;
decaying
Britannica Dictionary definition of DECAY
1
:
to be slowly destroyed by natural processes
:
to be slowly broken down by the natural processes that destroy a dead plant or body
[no object]
-
Tomatoes that fall off the vine will decay [=rot] on the ground.
-
a dead fish decaying [=decomposing] on the beach
-
the smell of decaying/decayed rubbish
[+ object]
2
[no object]
:
to slowly lose strength, health, etc.
-
She believes that the moral fiber of our society is decaying.
-
our decaying public school system
-
His mind/health is beginning to decay. [=decline]
3
[no object]
of a building, area, etc.
:
to go slowly from a bad condition to a worse condition
:
to slowly enter a state of ruin
decay
is the most general of these terms. It often suggests a slow change from a state of strength or perfection.
decompose
stresses that bacteria, worms, insects, etc., are destroying and breaking apart something that is dead.
rot
is a close synonym of
decompose and rot
but is used to refer to dead people or animals and not to plants. It suggests that something is extremely unpleasant to see or smell.
spoil
is used when talking about food that is no longer safe to eat.
2
decay
/dɪˈkeɪ/
noun
Britannica Dictionary definition of DECAY
[noncount]
:
the process or result of decaying: such as
a
:
the process or result of being slowly destroyed by natural processes
b
:
the slow loss of strength, health, etc.
-
She writes about the moral decay of our society.
-
We're concerned about the decay [=deterioration] of our public school system.
-
the patient's physical and mental decay
c
of a building, area, etc.
:
the process or result of going slowly from a bad condition to a worse condition