DECAY

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does decay mean? 

• DECAY (noun)
  The noun DECAY has 5 senses:

1. the process of gradually becoming inferior
2. a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
3. the organic phenomenon of rotting
4. an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying
5. the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation

  Familiarity information: DECAY used as a noun is common.

• DECAY (verb)
  The verb DECAY has 3 senses:

1. lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current
2. fall into decay or ruin
3. undergo decay or decomposition

  Familiarity information: DECAY used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DECAY (noun)

Meaning:

The process of gradually becoming inferior

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("decay" is a kind of...):

action; activity; natural action; natural process (a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decay"):

spoilage; spoiling (the process of becoming spoiled)

dilapidation; ruin (the process of becoming dilapidated)

decomposition; putrefaction; rot; rotting ((biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action)

corruption (decay of matter (as by rot or oxidation))

caries; cavity; dental caries; tooth decay (soft decayed area in a tooth; progressive decay can lead to the death of a tooth)

Meaning:

A gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

decay; decline

Hypernyms ("decay" is a kind of...):

decrease; decrement (a process of becoming smaller or shorter)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decay"):

exponential decay; exponential return (a decrease that follows an exponential function)

Meaning:

The organic phenomenon of rotting

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

decay; decomposition

Hypernyms ("decay" is a kind of...):

organic phenomenon ((biology) a natural phenomenon involving living plants and animals)

Meaning:

An inferior state resulting from the process of decaying

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context examples:

the corpse was in an advanced state of decay / the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair

Hypernyms ("decay" is a kind of...):

unsoundness (a condition of damage or decay)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decay"):

rancidity (the state of being rancid; having a rancid scent or flavor (as of old cooking oil))

deterioration; impairment (a symptom of reduced quality or strength)

decomposition; disintegration (in a decomposed state)

putrefaction; rot (a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor)

Meaning:

The spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

radioactive decay; disintegration; decay

Hypernyms ("decay" is a kind of...):

nuclear reaction ((physics) a process that alters the energy or structure or composition of atomic nuclei)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decay"):

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)

• DECAY (verb)

Meaning:

Lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

decay; decompose; disintegrate

Context example:

the particles disintegrated during the nuclear fission process

Hypernyms (to "decay" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Domain category:

natural philosophy; physical science; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Meaning:

Fall into decay or ruin

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

delapidate; decay; crumble

Context example:

The unoccupied house started to decay

Hypernyms (to "decay" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decay"):

break; bust; fall apart; wear; wear out (go to pieces)

ruin (fall into ruin)

droop; wilt (become limp)

eat at; erode; gnaw; gnaw at; wear away (become ground down or deteriorate)

weather (change under the action or influence of the weather)

corrode; rust (become destroyed by water, air, or an etching chemical such as an acid)

deteriorate (become worse or disintegrate)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Meaning:

Undergo decay or decomposition

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The body started to decay and needed to be cremated

Hypernyms (to "decay" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decay"):

decompose; molder; moulder; rot (break down)

go bad; spoil (become unfit for consumption or use)

putrefy (become putrid; decay with an offensive smell)

deliquesce (melt away in the process of decay)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s