/ ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz; NAmE -ˈpoʊz/ verb
1.
to be destroyed gradually by natural chemical processes
SYN decay , rot :
[ v ]
a decomposing corpse
As the waste materials decompose, they produce methane gas.
[ vn ]
a decomposed body
2.
[ vn , v ] decompose (sth) (into sth) ( technical ) to divide sth into smaller parts; to divide into smaller parts
► de·com·pos·ition / ˌdiːkɒmpəˈzɪʃn; NAmE -kɑːm-/ noun [ U ]:
the decomposition of organic waste
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 18th cent. (in the sense separate into simpler constituents ): from French décomposer , from de- (expressing reversal) + composer .