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- pronunciation:
- dih
keI
- parts of speech:
- intransitive verb, transitive verb, noun
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
decays, decaying, decayed |
| definition 1: |
to rot or become rotted; decompose.
The floor of the forest is covered with leaves that are decaying.This tooth has decayed and will need to be fixed with a filling.- synonyms:
- crumble, decompose, molder, putrefy, rot, spoil
- similar words:
- corrode, degenerate, deteriorate, dilapidate, disintegrate
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| definition 2: |
to lose health, strength, excellence, or the like.
Her health has decayed over the past year.- synonyms:
- decline, degenerate, ebb, fail, languish, rot, wane, waste
- similar words:
- atrophy, perish, ruin, weaken
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| definition 3: |
in physics, to decline in radioactivity.
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| related words: |
blight, corrupt, decline, degrade, eat, ebb, languish, mold, mortify, shrivel, spoil, stale, taint, wither |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| definition: |
to cause to rot or decompose.
- synonyms:
- decompose, molder, putrefy, rot, spoil
- similar words:
- corrupt, deteriorate, devastate, dilapidate, ruin
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| related words: |
blight, corrode, degrade, eat |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
a process of decline or deterioration.
The old mansion is in decay after years of neglect.
- synonyms:
- corruption, decadence, degeneration, deterioration, rot, ruin, ruination
- similar words:
- atrophy, collapse, decrepitude
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| definition 2: |
the process of rotting or state of decomposition.
Daily brushing helps prevent tooth decay.- synonyms:
- corruption, decomposition, dissolution, putrefaction, rot, spoilage
- similar words:
- corrosion, dry rot, erosion, ruin
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| definition 3: |
loss of excellence, health, strength, or the like; state of ruin.
The once strong empire fell into decay.- synonyms:
- destruction, downfall, ruin, ruination, weakening
- similar words:
- corruption, decline, degeneration
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| definition 4: |
in physics, the decline of radioactivity by emissions.
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| related words: |
blight, carrion, ebb, failure |
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| derivation: |
decayable (adj.) |
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