Main Entry: ¹de·cay

Pronunciation: \di-ˈkā\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French decaïr, from Late Latin decadere to fall, sink, from Latin de- + cadere to fall — more at chance

Date: 15th century

intransitive verb 1 : to decline from a sound or prosperous condition
2 : to decrease usually gradually in size, quantity, activity, or force
3 : to fall into ruin
4 : to decline in health, strength, or vigor
5 : to undergo decomposition <decaying fruit>transitive verb 1 obsolete : to cause to decay : impair <infirmity that decays the wise — Shakespeare>
2 : to destroy by decomposition

— de·cay·er noun

synonyms decay, decompose, rot, putrefy, spoil mean to undergo destructive dissolution. decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection <a decaying mansion>. decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption <the strong odor of decomposing vegetation>. rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness <fruit was left to rot in warehouses>. putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell <corpses putrefying on the battlefield>. spoil applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods <keep the ham from spoiling>.