DECAY


Meaning of DECAY in English

(~s, ~ing, ~ed)

1.

When something such as a dead body, a dead plant, or a tooth ~s, it is gradually destroyed by a natural process.

The bodies buried in the fine ash slowly ~ed...

The ground was scattered with ~ing leaves.

= rot

VERB: V, V-ing

Decay is also a noun.

When not removed, plaque causes tooth ~ and gum disease.

N-UNCOUNT

~ed

...~ed teeth.

= rotten

ADJ

2.

If something such as a society, system, or institution ~s, it gradually becomes weaker or its condition gets worse.

Popular cinema seems to have ~ed...

VERB: V

Decay is also a noun.

There are problems of urban ~ and gang violence.

N-UNCOUNT

Collins COBUILD.      Толковый словарь английского языка для изучающих язык Коллинз COBUILD (международная база данных языков Бирмингемского университета) .