decay

/di-ˈkā/

Middle English, from Anglo-French decaïr, from Late Latin decadere to fall, sink, from Latin de- + cadere to fall

verb

  1. to undergo decomposition

  2. to decline in health, strength, or vigor

  3. to fall into ruin

decaying fruit

decay decompose rot putrefy spoil 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.

noun

  1. rot; specifically : aerobic decomposition of proteins chiefly by bacteria

  2. the product of decay

  3. gradual decline in strength, soundness, or prosperity or in degree of excellence or perfection

The material is … resistant to fire, decay and termites …

tooth decay

noun

  1. a radioactive nuclear transformation governed by the weak force in which a nucleon (such as a neutron) changes into a nucleon (such as a proton) of the other type with the emission of either an electron and an antineutrino or a positron and a neutrino