decomposer

noun

de·​com·​pos·​er ˌdē-kəm-ˈpō-zər 

: any of various organisms (such as many bacteria and fungi) that return constituents of organic substances to ecological cycles by feeding on and breaking down dead protoplasm compare consumer, producer sense 4

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, a decomposer speeds up the decay of stubble, turning it into manure within three weeks. —Niharika Sharma, Quartz, 3 Nov. 2022

Farmers in the region have been given a liquid decomposer to spray on their fields to break down stubble into organic fertilizer instead of burning, although the program is still considered in its trial phase. —Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2021

As primary decomposers, mushrooms break down the organic matter of dead plants and animals. —Popular Science, 13 May 2020

Scavengers scavenge, predators predate, decomposers decompose. —New York Times, 22 Nov. 2019

But these decomposers just want the tasty packages of dead tissues and biominerals all to themselves. —Anna K. Behrensmeyer, Smithsonian, 8 June 2019

Origins of a killer There are hundreds of species of chytrid fungi, and most of them are unobtrusive decomposers. —Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 28 Mar. 2019

Atmospheric nitrogen gets churned through a series of chemical states by a diverse assortment of bacteria, plants and decomposers like fungi performing different reactions. —Quanta Magazine, 20 Nov. 2018

Just as bodies are broken down in death by decomposers, every bit of them transformed into the matter that nourishes new life, so is the creative process a constant cycle. —NBC News, 2 Apr. 2018

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Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

decomposer

noun

de·​com·​pos·​er ˌdē-kəm-ˈpō-zər 

: an organism (as a bacterium or a fungus) that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter

Medical Definition

decomposer

noun

de·​com·​pos·​er ˌdē-kəm-ˈpō-zər 

: any of various organisms (as many bacteria and fungi) that return constituents of organic substances to ecological cycles by feeding on and breaking down dead protoplasm