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Definitions for Decay

[1] to become decomposed; rot: vegetation that was decaying.
[2] to decline in excellence, prosperity, health, etc.; deteriorate.
[3] Physics . (of a radioactive nucleus) to change spontaneously into one or more different nuclei in a process in which atomic particles, as alpha particles, are emitted from the nucleus, electrons are captured or lost, or fission takes place.
[4] to cause to decay or decompose; rot: The dampness of the climate decayed the books.
[5] decomposition; rot: Decay made the wood unsuitable for use.
[6] a gradual falling into an inferior condition; progressive decline: the decay of international relations; the decay of the Aztec civilizations.
[7] decline in or loss of strength, health, intellect, etc.: His mental decay is distressing.
[8] Also called disintegration, radioactive decay. Physics . a radioactive process in which a nucleus undergoes spontaneous transformation into one or more different nuclei and simultaneously emits radiation, loses electrons, or undergoes fission.
[9] Aerospace . the progressive, accelerating reduction in orbital parameters, particularly apogee and perigee, of a spacecraft due to atmospheric drag.
[10] to decline or cause to decline gradually in health, prosperity, excellence, etc; deteriorate; waste away
[11] to rot or cause to rot as a result of bacterial, fungal, or chemical action; decompose
[12] Also: disintegrate (intr) physics (of an atomic nucleus) to undergo radioactive disintegration (of an elementary particle) to transform into two or more different elementary particles
[13] (intr) physics (of a stored charge, magnetic flux, etc) to decrease gradually when the source of energy has been removed
[14] the process of decline, as in health, mentality, beauty, etc
[15] the state brought about by this process
[16] decomposition, as of vegetable matter
[17] rotten or decayed matter the dentist drilled out the decay
[18] physics See radioactive decay a spontaneous transformation of an elementary particle into two or more different particles of an excited atom or molecule, losing energy by the spontaneous emission of photons
[19] physics a gradual decrease of a stored charge, magnetic flux, current, etc, when the source of energy has been removed See also time constant
[20] music the fading away of a note

Words related to Decay

disrepair, corrosion, disintegration, impairment, decomposition, deterioration, blight, extinction, rot, degeneration, shrivel, fade, pollute, wane, dwindle, disintegrate, lessen, corrode, discolor, wither

Words nearby Decay

decathlete, decathlon, decating, decatur, decatyl alcohol, decay, decay chain, decay constant, decay series, decay theory, decay time

Origin of Decay

1425–75; (v.) late Middle English decayen < Old North French decair, equivalent to de- de- + cair to fall < Vulgar Latin *cadēre, for Latin cadere; (noun) late Middle English, derivative of the v.

Other words from Decay

de·cay·a·ble , adjective
de·cayed·ness [dih-keyd -nis, -key -id-] /dɪˈkeɪd nɪs, -ˈkeɪ ɪd-/ , adjective
de·cay·less , adjective
non·de·cayed , adjective
non·de·cay·ing , adjective
re·de·cay , verb
sem·i·de·cay , noun
sem·i·de·cayed , adjective
un·de·cay·a·ble , adjective
un·de·cayed , adjective
un·de·cay·ing , adjective

Word origin for Decay

C15: from Old Northern French decaïr, from Late Latin dēcadere, literally: to fall away, from Latin cadere to fall

Synonyms for Decay

blight, corrosion, decomposition, degeneration, deterioration, disintegration, disrepair, extinction, impairment, rot, adulteration, atrophy, caries, consumption, crumbling, decadence, decline, decrease, decrepitude, degeneracy, depreciation, dilapidation, dissolution, downfall, dying, fading, failing, gangrene, mortification, perishing, putrefaction, putrescence, putridity, putridness, rotting, ruin, ruination, rust, senescence, spoilage, spoilation, wasting, withering, wasting away