Decay

v. rot, decompose; deteriorate, waste away

n. rot, putrefaction, decomposition

Decay may refer to the following:Bacterial decay, decomposition of organic matterWhen a sound reverberates in a room, "decay" means the sound fading away Radioactive decay or atomic decayDental caries, also known as tooth decayDecay (DC Comics), a comic book character, a computer game add-onParticle decay, in physicsOrbital decay, the process of prolonged reduction in the height of a satellite's orbit.
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Decay /de·cay/ 1. the decomposition of dead matter. 2. the process of decline, as in aging. beta decay disintegration of the nucleus of an [more]Decay - Community and Resources

Noun
1. the process of gradually becoming inferior
(hypernym) natural process, natural action, action, activity
(hyponym) cavity, caries, dental caries, tooth decay
2. a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
(synonym) decline
(hypernym) decrease, decrement
(hyponym) exponential decay, exponential return
(derivation) disintegrate, decompose
3. the organic phenomenon of rotting
(synonym) decomposition
(hypernym) organic phenomenon
4. an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying; "the corpse was in an advanced state of decay"; "the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair"
(hypernym) unsoundness
(hyponym) putrefaction, rot
(derivation) crumble, delapidate
5. the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
(synonym) radioactive decay, disintegration
(hypernym) nuclear reaction
(hyponym) alpha decay
(derivation) disintegrate, decompose
Verb
1. lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current; "the particles disintegrated during the nuclear fission process"
(synonym) disintegrate, decompose
(hypernym) change integrity
(verb-group) disintegrate
(derivation) radioactive decay, disintegration
(classification) physics, physical science, natural philosophy
2. fall into decay or ruin; "The unoccupied house started to decay"
(synonym) crumble, delapidate
(hypernym) change
(hyponym) deteriorate
3. undergo decay or decomposition; "The body started to decay and needed to be cremated"
(hypernym) change
(hyponym) decompose, rot, molder, moulder
(derivation) decomposition

(v. t.)
To destroy.
  

(v. t.)
To cause to decay; to impair.
  

(v. i.)
To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay; hopes decay.
  

(n.)
Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration; as, the decay of the body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman empire; a castle in decay.
  

(n.)
Destruction; death.
  

(n.)
Cause of decay.