de
cay
Third Person
decays
Present Participle
decaying
Past Tense
decayed
Past Participle
decayed
1
to be gradually damaged or destroyed as a result of natural processes
- Wood can decay if left untreated and exposed to moisture.
- The old building is currently decaying due to weathering.
- The fallen leaves have decayed, enriching the soil with nutrients.
- Over the years, the ancient ruins decayed into partial structures.
- The untreated metal was decaying slowly in the corrosive environment.
2
to cause gradual destruction or damage of something
transitive
- Neglecting proper dental hygiene can decay tooth enamel, leading to cavities and eventual tooth loss.
- Moisture and lack of ventilation can decay wooden furniture, causing it to warp, mold, and deteriorate over time.
- Improper food storage can decay fruits and vegetables, leading to spoilage and the growth of harmful bacteria.
- The acidic nature of certain substances can decay metal surfaces.
- Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation can decay the molecular structure of plastics.
3
(of a radioactive substance) undergoe fission or emits radiation, resulting in the transformation of its atomic nucleus into a different element or isotope
- Uranium-238 decays into thorium-234 through a process of alpha decay.
- Radon-222 decays into polonium-218 through alpha decay, releasing an alpha particle and decreasing its atomic number by two.
- Carbon-14 decays into nitrogen-14 through beta decay, emitting a beta particle.
Synonyms: