v.
Pronunciation: di- ' tir- ē - ə - ˌ r ā t, d ē -
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -rat · ed ; -rat · ing
Etymology: Late Latin deterioratus, past participle of deteriorare, from Latin deterior worse, from de- + -ter (suffix as in Latin uter which of two) + -ior (compar. suffix) ― more at WHETHER , -ER
Date: 1572
transitive verb
1 : to make inferior in quality or value : IMPAIR
2 : DISINTEGRATE
intransitive verb : to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : DEGENERATE <allowed a tradition of academic excellence to deteriorate > <his health deteriorated >
– de · te · ri · o · ra · tive \ - ˌ r ā -tiv \ adjective