Dictionary > Decay

Decay

Decay
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)
Origin: OF. Decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, f. Dechoir, to decline, fall, become less; L. De- – cadere to fall. See chance.
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.
3. Cause of decay. He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age. (Bacon)
Synonym: decline, consumption. See decline.
A gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current.The organic phenomenon of rotting.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.The spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation.The decomposition of biological tissue into more simpler forms, usually catalysed by the presence of fungi and bacteria so they can extract energy from the decaying material.


You will also like...

Wart-like leaf galls on grape leaves
Plant Cell Defense

Plants protect themselves by releasing hydrogen peroxide to fight against fungal invasion. Another way is by secreting c..

Growth and Plant Hormones
Growth and Plant Hormones

Plants, like animals, produce hormones to regulate plant activities, including growth. They need these hormones to respo..

sponge
Primitive Animals

Life, as we know it today, is presumed to have started in the sea and many of them were likely eukaryotic animal-like or..

Angle Oak Tree
Seed Plants

Seed plants are vascular plants. They differ from the other vascular plants in producing seeds that germinate into a new..

Body temperature regulation by the hypothalamus
Temperature Regulation in Animals

This tutorial elucidates body temperature regulation. Know the details here to learn how the body sets the body temperat..

Physical growth
Physical Development in Humans

This tutorial elaborates on the physical development of humans, particularly from puberty to adulthood. Read this tutori..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics