decay Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the process of gradually becoming inferior
  2. noun a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
    decline.
  3. noun the organic phenomenon of rotting
    decomposition.
  4. noun 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
  5. noun the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
    disintegration; radioactive decay.
  6. verb lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current
    disintegrate; decompose.
    • the particles disintegrated during the nuclear fission process
  7. verb fall into decay or ruin
    dilapidate; crumble.
    • The unoccupied house started to decay
  8. verb undergo decay or decomposition
    • The body started to decay and needed to be cremated

WordNet

De*cay" intransitive verb
Etymology
OF. decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, F. déchoir, to decline, fall, become less; L. de- + cadere to fall. See Chance.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Decayed ; present participle & verbal noun Decaying
Definitions
  1. To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay; hopes decay.
    Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay. Goldsmith.
De*cay" transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cause to decay; to impair. R.
    Infirmity, that decays the wise. Shak.
  2. To destroy. Obs. Shak.
De*cay" noun
Definitions
  1. Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration; as, the decay of the body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman empire; a castle in decay.
    Perhaps my God, though he be far before, May turn, and take me by the hand, and more - May strengthen my decays. Herbert.
    His [Johnson's] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual decay. Macaulay.
    Which has caused the decay of the consonants to follow somewhat different laws. James Byrne.
  2. Destruction; death. Obs. Spenser.
  3. Cause of decay. R.
    He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age. Bacon.
    Syn. -- Decline; consumption. See Decline.

Webster 1913