decay — the process of rotting or decomposing
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the process of rotting or decomposing
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈkeɪ/
Example Sentences
- My dentist warned me that too much candy would cause tooth decay.
- The zombie's body was in such advanced decay that even other zombies avoided him.
- The once-grand mansion had fallen into decay after being abandoned for decades.
decay
NOUN[/dɪˈkeɪ/]
the process of rotting or decomposing
The abandoned house slowly decayed over many years.
Moisture caused the wooden fence to decay gradually. (DAMAGE + TIME = DECAY → decay means becoming damaged or weakened over time)
Without care, things decay and slowly fade away like yesterday's memories.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin 'decidere', meaning 'to fall down'. The word originally referred to the physical act of falling or dropping, but gradually evolved to denote deterioration, decomposition, and the process of decline, evoking the image of leaves falling from trees and rotting.
Breakdown
de- (down) + cadere (to fall). The prefix 'de-' indicates downward direction or removal, while 'cadere' means to fall or drop.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My dentist warned me that too much candy would cause tooth decay.”
“The zombie's body was in such advanced decay that even other zombies avoided him.”
“The once-grand mansion had fallen into decay after being abandoned for decades.”
“His excuse-making skills never decay, unlike his motivation to exercise.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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