[de.com.pose] vb [F decomposer, fr. de- de + composer to compose] vt (ca. 1751) 1: to separate into constituent parts or elements or into simpler compounds "~ water by electrolysis" "~ a word into its base and affixes"
2: rot ~ vi: to break up into constituent parts by or as if by a chemical process: decay, rot "fruit ~s" syn see decay -- de.com.pos.abil.i.ty n -- de.com.pos.able adj -- de.com.po.si.tion n