decay
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
decay/dɪˈkeɪ/
▶verb
- 1 rot or cause to rot through the action of bacteria and fungi; decompose.
■ decline in quality or vigour; deteriorate.
- 2 Physics (of a radioactive substance, particle, etc.) undergo change to a different form by emitting radiation.
- 1 the state or process of decaying.
- 2 rotten matter or tissue.
– origin ME: from OFr. decair, based on L. decidere ‘fall down or off’, from de- ‘from’ + cadere ‘fall’.
'decay' also found in these Oxford entries:
alpha radiation
- beta
- beta decay
- beta particle
- cadence
- carbon cycle
- caries
- cariogenic
- corruption
- daughter
- decadence
- decompose
- dilapidation
- disintegrate
- dry rot
- embalm
- fluoride
- incorruptible
- indefectible
- kyanize
- medlar
- moulder
- perish
- phthisis
- preservative
- protactinium
- putrefy
- putrescible
- radon
- rot
- rotten
- sapro-
- saprogenic
- spalted
- stable
- streptococcus
- tartar
- wet rot
- wither
