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Decay for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: dɪ'keɪ

What does Decay really mean?

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Hey there! So, the word "decay" can mean a couple of different things, but I'll break it down for you. When something decays, it means that it breaks down or rots over time. Kind of like how an apple will start to rot if you leave it out for too long. Decay can happen to lots of different things, like organic matter, wood, metal, or even buildings.

On the other hand, "decay" can also refer to the decline or deterioration of something, like a city or a society. Just like how a neglected garden will decay and become overgrown with weeds, a city can also decay if it's not taken care of.

In science, decay is often used to describe the breakdown of radioactive materials. For instance, radioactive decay happens when the atoms of a radioactive substance release energy and particles as they transform into other elements.

So, in a nutshell, decay can mean the process of breaking down or rotting, the decline of something, or the breakdown of radioactive materials. It's like when a beautiful flower wilts and turns to mush, or when an old building starts to crumble and fall apart. Decay can happen slowly over time, or it can happen all at once, like when a candy bar gets left in a hot car and melts into a gooey mess. Pretty gross, right?

But overall, decay is a natural process that happens to a lot of things, and understanding it can help us take care of the world around us. I hope that helps clear things up a bit!

Revised and Fact checked by Emma Williams on 2023-11-09 18:34:39

Decay In a sentece

Learn how to use Decay inside a sentece

  • When a piece of fruit is left out for too long, it starts to decay and go bad.
  • If you don't take care of your teeth and brush them regularly, they can start to decay and get cavities.
  • When a building is not maintained, it can start to decay and fall apart.
  • When a fallen tree is left in the forest, it will slowly decay and become part of the soil.
  • If you leave food out in the open for too long, it will decay and attract bugs and bacteria.

Decay Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

crumble crumble decline decline decompose decompose decomposition decomposition dilapidate dilapidate disintegrate disintegrate disintegration disintegration radioactive decay radioactive decay

Decay Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

action action activity activity change change change change change integrity change integrity decrease decrease decrement decrement natural action natural action natural process natural process nuclear reaction nuclear reaction organic phenomenon organic phenomenon unsoundness unsoundness

Decay Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.

alpha decay alpha decay beta decay beta decay break break breakdown breakdown bust bust caries caries cavity cavity corrode corrode corruption corruption decompose decompose decomposition decomposition decomposition decomposition deliquesce deliquesce dental caries dental caries deteriorate deteriorate deterioration deterioration dilapidation dilapidation disintegration disintegration droop droop eat at eat at erode erode exponential decay exponential decay exponential return exponential return fall apart fall apart gnaw gnaw gnaw at gnaw at go bad go bad impairment impairment molder molder moulder moulder putrefaction putrefaction putrefaction putrefaction putrefy putrefy rancidity rancidity rot rot rot rot rot rot rotting rotting ruin ruin ruin ruin rust rust spoil spoil spoilage spoilage spoiling spoiling tooth decay tooth decay wear wear wear away wear away wear out wear out weather weather wilt wilt

Decay Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.

natural philosophy natural philosophy physics physics