n.
Pronunciation: di- ' k ā
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French decaïr, from Late Latin decadere to fall, sink, from Latin de- + cadere to fall ― more at CHANCE
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb
1 : to decline from a sound or prosperous condition
2 : to decrease usually gradually in size, quantity, activity, or force
3 : to fall into ruin
4 : to decline in health, strength, or vigor
5 : to undergo decomposition < decay ing fruit>
transitive verb
1 obsolete : to cause to decay : IMPAIR <infirmity that decay s the wise ― Shakespeare>
2 : to destroy by decomposition
– de · cay · er noun
synonyms 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 >.