Decay Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)
Britannica Dictionary definition of DECAY
1
:
to be slowly destroyed by natural processes
:
to be slowly broken down by the natural processes that destroy a dead plant or body
[no object]
- Tomatoes that fall off the vine will decay [=_rot_] on the ground.
- a dead fish decaying [=_decomposing_] on the beach
- the smell of decaying/decayed rubbish
[+ object]
- dead plants and leaves decayed by bacteria
2
[no object]
:
to slowly lose strength, health, etc.
- She believes that the moral fiber of our society is decaying.
- our decaying public school system
- His mind/health is beginning to decay. [=_decline_]
3
[no object]
of a building, area, etc.
:
to go slowly from a bad condition to a worse condition
:
to slowly enter a state of ruin
- The city's neighborhoods are decaying.
is the most general of these terms. It often suggests a slow change from a state of strength or perfection.
- a decaying mansion
stresses that bacteria, worms, insects, etc., are destroying and breaking apart something that is dead.
- the animal's decomposing flesh
- Eventually the vegetation decomposes and is mixed with dirt and used in the garden.
is a close synonym of
but also suggests a bad smell.
- Flies swarmed around the rotting fruit.
and
but is used to refer to dead people or animals and not to plants. It suggests that something is extremely unpleasant to see or smell.
- corpses putrefying on the battlefield
is used when talking about food that is no longer safe to eat.
- The meat will spoil if it is not kept cold.
Britannica Dictionary definition of DECAY
[noncount]
:
the process or result of decaying: such as
a
:
the process or result of being slowly destroyed by natural processes
- the decay of dead plants and leaves
- tooth decay
b
:
the slow loss of strength, health, etc.
- She writes about the moral decay of our society.
- We're concerned about the decay [=_deterioration_] of our public school system.
- the patient's physical and mental decay
c
of a building, area, etc.
:
the process or result of going slowly from a bad condition to a worse condition
- The city's neighborhoods are in slow decay.
- She wants to restore an old theater that is falling into decay. [=falling into ruin]