Main Entry: de·com·pose

Pronunciation: \ˌdē-kəm-ˈpōz\

Function: verb

Etymology: French décomposer, from dé- de + composer to compose

Date: 1718

transitive verb 1 : to separate into constituent parts or elements or into simpler compounds <decompose water by electrolysis> <decompose a word into its base and affixes>
2 : rotintransitive verb : to break up into constituent parts by or as if by a chemical process : decay, rot <fruit decomposes>

synonyms see decay

— de·com·pos·abil·i·ty \-ˌpō-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— de·com·pos·able \-ˈpō-zə-bəl\ adjective

— de·com·po·si·tion \(ˌ)dē-ˌkäm-pə-ˈzi-shən\ noun