decay (redirected from senile decay)

de·cay  (d-k)

v. de·cayed, de·cay·ing, de·cays

v.intr.

1. Biology To break down into component parts; rot.

2. Physics To disintegrate or diminish by radioactive decay.

3. Electronics To decrease gradually in magnitude. Used of voltage or current.

4. Aerospace To decrease in orbit. Used of an artificial satellite.

5. To fall into ruin: a civilization that had begun to decay.

6. Pathology To decline in health or vigor; waste away.

7. To decline from a state of normality, excellence, or prosperity; deteriorate.

v.tr.

To cause to decay.

n.

1.

a. The destruction or decomposition of organic matter as a result of bacterial or fungal action; rot.

b. Rotted matter.

2. Physics Radioactive decay.

3. Aerospace The decrease in orbital altitude of an artificial satellite as a result of conditions such as atmospheric drag.

4. A gradual deterioration to an inferior state: tooth decay; urban decay.

5. A falling into ruin.

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[Middle English decayen, from Old French decair, from Vulgar Latin *dcadere : Latin d-, de- + Latin cadere, to fall; see kad- in Indo-European roots.]

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de·cayer n.

Synonyms: decay, rot, putrefy, spoil, crumble, molder, disintegrate, decompose
These verbs refer to gradual change resulting in destruction or dissolution. Decay can denote partial deterioration short of complete destruction: Brush and floss regularly to prevent teeth from decaying.
Rot is sometimes synonymous with decay, but often, like putrefy, stresses offensiveness to the sense of smell: The food left on the counter began to rot. Arctic cold prevented the prehistoric animal from putrefying.
Spoil usually refers to the process by which perishable substances become unfit for use or consumption: Put the fish in the refrigerator before they spoil.
Crumble implies physical breakdown into small fragments or particles: The ancient church had crumbled to ruins.
To molder is to crumble to dust: The shawl had moldered away in the trunk.
Disintegrate refers to complete breakdown into component parts: The sandstone façade had disintegrated from exposure to the elements.
Decompose, largely restricted to the breakdown of substances into their chemical components, also connotes rotting and putrefying, both literally and figuratively: "trivial personalities decomposing in the eternity of print" (Virginia Woolf).

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decay [dɪˈkeɪ]

vb

1. to decline or cause to decline gradually in health, prosperity, excellence, etc.; deteriorate; waste away

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) to rot or cause to rot as a result of bacterial, fungal, or chemical action; decompose

3. (intr) Also: disintegrate Physics

a.  (of an atomic nucleus) to undergo radioactive disintegration

b.  (of an elementary particle) to transform into two or more different elementary particles

4. (Physics / General Physics) (intr) Physics (of a stored charge, magnetic flux, etc.) to decrease gradually when the source of energy has been removed

n

1. the process of decline, as in health, mentality, beauty, etc.

2. the state brought about by this process

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) decomposition, as of vegetable matter

4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) rotten or decayed matter the dentist drilled out the decay

5. (Physics / Nuclear Physics) Physics

a.  See radioactive decay

b.  a spontaneous transformation of an elementary particle into two or more different particles

c.  of an excited atom or molecule, losing energy by the spontaneous emission of photons

6. (Physics / General Physics) Physics a gradual decrease of a stored charge, magnetic flux, current, etc., when the source of energy has been removed See also time constant

7. (Music, other) Music the fading away of a note

[from Old Northern French decaïr, from Late Latin dēcadere, literally: to fall away, from Latin cadere to fall]

decayable  adj

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decay  (d-k)

Noun

1. The breaking down or rotting of organic matter through the action of bacteria, fungi, or other organisms; decomposition.

2. The spontaneous transformation of a relatively unstable particle into a set of new particles. For example, a pion decays spontaneously into a muon and an antineutrino. The decay of heavy or unstable atomic nuclei (such as uranium or carbon-10) into more stable nuclei and emitted particles is called radioactive decay. The study of particle decay is fundamental to subatomic physics. See more at fundamental forceradioactive decay

Verb

To undergo decay.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	decay - the process of gradually becoming inferior caries, dental caries, tooth decay, cavity - soft decayed area in a tooth; progressive decay can lead to the death of a tooth corruption - decay of matter (as by rot or oxidation) rotting, putrefaction, rot, decomposition - (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action dilapidation, ruin - the process of becoming dilapidated natural action, natural process, action, activity - a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity" spoiling, spoilage - the process of becoming spoiled
	2.	decay - a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current decline decrease, decrement - a process of becoming smaller or shorter exponential decay, exponential return - a decrease that follows an exponential function
	3.	decay - the organic phenomenon of rotting decomposition organic phenomenon - (biology) a natural phenomenon involving living plants and animals
	4.	decay - an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying; "the corpse was in an advanced state of decay"; "the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair" unsoundness - a condition of damage or decay putrefaction, rot - a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor disintegration, decomposition - in a decomposed state deterioration, impairment - a symptom of reduced quality or strength rancidity - the state of being rancid; having a rancid scent or flavor (as of old cooking oil)
	5.	decay - the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation radioactive decay, disintegration alpha decay - radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of an alpha particle beta decay - radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of a beta particle nuclear reaction - (physics) a process that alters the energy or structure or composition of atomic nuclei
Verb	1.	decay - lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current; "the particles disintegrated during the nuclear fission process" decompose, disintegrate natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics" change integrity - change in physical make-up disintegrate - cause to undergo fission or lose particles
	2.	decay - fall into decay or ruin; "The unoccupied house started to decay" dilapidate, crumble change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" deteriorate - become worse or disintegrate; "His mind deteriorated" rust, corrode - become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid; "The metal corroded"; "The pipes rusted" weather - change under the action or influence of the weather; "A weathered old hut" eat at, erode, gnaw at, gnaw, wear away - become ground down or deteriorate; "Her confidence eroded" wilt, droop - become limp; "The flowers wilted" ruin - fall into ruin fall apart, wear out, bust, wear, break - go to pieces; "The lawn mower finally broke"; "The gears wore out"; "The old chair finally fell apart completely"
	3.	decay - undergo decay or decomposition; "The body started to decay and needed to be cremated" change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" molder, moulder, rot, decompose - break down; "The bodies decomposed in the heat" go bad, spoil - become unfit for consumption or use; "the meat must be eaten before it spoils" putrefy - become putrid; decay with an offensive smell; "organic matter putrefies" deliquesce - melt away in the process of decay; "The fungi eventually deliquesced"

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decay

verb

1. rot, break down, disintegrate, spoil, crumble, deteriorate, perish, degenerate, fester, decompose, mortify, moulder, go bad, putrefy The bodies buried in the fine ash slowly decayed.

2. decline, sink, break down, diminish, dissolve, crumble, deteriorate, fall off, dwindle, lessen, wane, disintegrate, degenerate The work ethic in this country has decayed over the past 30 years.
decline increase, grow, flower, expand, flourish

noun

1. rot, rotting, deterioration, corruption, mould, blight, perishing, disintegration, corrosion, decomposition, gangrene, mortification, canker, caries, putrefaction, putrescence, cariosity, putridity Plaque causes tooth decay and gum disease.

2. decline, collapse, deterioration, failing, fading, decadence, degeneration, degeneracy problems of urban decay and gang violence
decline growth

Translations

decay [dɪˈkeɪ]

A. N

1. [of vegetation, food] → putrefacción f, descomposición f; [of teeth] → caries f; [of building] → desmoronamiento m, ruina f

2. (fig) [of civilization] → decadencia f; [of faculties] → deterioro m

B. VI

1. (= rot) [leaves, food] → pudrirse, descomponerse; [teeth] → cariarse; [building] → desmoronarse

2. (fig) [civilization] → decaer, estar en decadencia; [faculties] → deteriorarse

C. VT [+ vegetation, food] → pudrir, descomponer; [+ teeth] → cariar

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decay [dɪˈkeɪ]

n

(= rotting) [leaves, bodies] → décomposition f, pourrissement m

(= deterioration) [institutions, society, system] → déclin m; [house, area] → délabrement m

(= tooth decay) → carie f (dentaire)

vi

(= rot) [leaves] → se décomposer; [body] → se décomposer

[teeth] → se carier

(= deteriorate) [house] → se délabrer; [area] → décliner, se délabrer; [society, system, institution] → être en déclin
a decaying mansion → un manoir qui se délabre
decaying urban and rural areas → les quartiers délabrés dans les villes et dans les campagnes
The system has decayed and will soon collapse → Le système est en déclin et va bientôt s'effondrer.

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decay

vi

(lit) → verfallen; (Phys) → zerfallen; (= rot, dead body, flesh, vegetable matter) → verwesen; (food) → schlecht werden, verderben; (tooth) → faulen, verfallen; (bones, wood) → verfallen, morsch werden

(fig) → verfallen; (health also) → sich verschlechtern; (beauty also) → verblühen, vergehen; (civilization, race) → untergehen; (friendship) → auseinandergehen, zerfallen; (one’s faculties) → verkümmern; (business, family) → herunterkommen

vt food → schlecht werden lassen, verderben; tooth → faulen lassen, schlecht werden lassen; wood → morsch werden lassen

n

(lit: = action) → Verfall m; (Phys) → Zerfall m; (= rotting, of dead body, flesh, vegetable matter) → Verwesung f; (of food) → Schlechtwerden nt; (of bones, wood) → Morschwerden nt; tooth decay → Zahnfäule f, → Karies f; to fall into decay → in Verfall geraten, verfallen

(= decayed part or area) → Fäule f, → Fäulnis f

(fig) → Verfall m; (of friendship, civilization) → Zerfall m; (of race, family, business) → Untergang m; (of faculties) → Verkümmern nt

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decay [dɪˈkeɪ]

1. vi (teeth) → cariarsi; (vegetation, flesh) → decomporsi (Phys) (radioactive nucleus) → disintegrarsi; (building, urban area) → andare in rovina (fig) (civilization) → decadere; (one's faculties) → deteriorarsi

2. n (of teeth) → carie f; (of vegetation, body) → decomposizione f; (of radioactivity) → disintegrazione f; (of building, urban area) → stato di abbandono, decadimento; (of civilization) → rovina; (of faculties) → deterioramento
urban decay → degrado urbano

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decay

v decay [diˈkei]

to (cause to) become rotten or ruined Sugar makes your teeth decay. verrot, vrot يَنْخُر، يَتَسَوَّس гния kazit se rådne verderben σαπίζω pudrirse, cariarse, deteriorarse lagunema panema, mädanema فاسد کردن؛ خراب کردن mädäntyä (faire) pourrir לְהִירָקֵב @@@לְהִירָקֵב$$$ सड़ना, बिगड़ना, घटना, मुरझाना, नाश होना propadati, trunuti romlik, szuvasodik membusuk rotna, skemmast deteriorare; cariarsi 腐る 썩다 gesti, pūti pūt; trūdēt; sairt reput bederven forfalle, råtne gnić, psuć się apodrecer a (se) strica; a decădea гнить kaziť sa gniti kvariti förfalla, förstöra[], ruttna เสื่อมลง çürümek 使枯朽，使衰退 гнити; псуватися گلنا یا گلانا ، سڑنا یا سڑانا mục nát; sâu răng 使朽枯，使衰退

n

the act or process of decaying tooth decay; in a state of decay. verrotting نَخْر، تَسَوُّس разложение kažení, hnití, chátrání forrådnelse der Verfall σήψη, αποσύνθεση descomposición, caries, deterioro hambasööbija, lagunemine فساد؛ خرابی تدریجی mätä pourrissement רִקָבוֹן @@@רִיקָבוֹן$$$ क्षय truljenje, propadanje szuvasodás; romlás, hanyatlás pembusukan rotnun, skemmd decadimento; carie 腐敗 썩음 gedimas, puvimas zoba bojāšanās mereput bederf forfall, forråtnelse, (tann)råte gnicie, psucie się apodrecimento decădere; ca­riere гниение kazenie, hnitie gnitje kvarenje förfall, förruttnelse, []röta การย่อยสลาย; การผุพัง çürüme 腐朽 гниття; руйнування خستہ حالت tình trạng mục nát; sâu răng 腐朽

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decay → يَتعفن hnití forfalde verfallen αποσυντίθεμαι deteriorarse mädäntyä se décomposer raspadati se decomporsi 衰える 썩다 vervallen forfalle stracić siły decair разлагаться förfall เน่าเปื่อย çürümek suy sụp 腐烂