[de.cay] vb [ME, fr. ONF decair, fr. LL decadere to fall, sink, fr. L de- + cadere to fall--more at chance] vi (15c) 1: to decline from a sound or prosperous condition
2: to decrease gradually in quantity, activity, or force
3: to fall into ruin
4: to decline in health, strength, or vigor
5: to undergo decomposition ~ vt 1 obs: to cause to decay: impair "infirmity that ~s the wise --Shak."
2: to destroy by decomposition -- de.cay.er n syn decay, decompose, rot, putrefy, spoil mean to undergo destructive dissolution. decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection "a decaying mansion". decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption "the strong odor of decomposing vegetation". rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness "fruit was left to rot in warehouses". putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell "corpses putrefying on the battlefield". spoil applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods "keep the ham from spoiling".
[2]decay n (15c) 1: gradual decline in strength, soundness, or prosperity or in degree of excellence or perfection
2: a wasting or wearing away: ruin 3 obs: destruction, death
4. a: rot; specif: aerobic decomposition of proteins chiefly by bacteria b: the product of decay
5: a decline in health or vigor
6: decrease in quantity, activity, or force: as a: spontaneous decrease in the number of radioactive atoms in radioactive material b: spontaneous disintegration (as of an atom or a particle)