decompose
verb
de·com·pose
ˌdē-kəm-ˈpōz 
decomposed; decomposing; decomposes
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
: rot
Synonyms
Examples of decompose in a Sentence
Bacteria and fungi help decompose organic matter.
the smell of decomposing leaves
The compound will decompose in the presence of light.
Recent Examples on the Web
The stench of decomposing corpses clung to the vehicle.
—
Cate Brown, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Similar to oil and gas companies, landfill operators drill and construct a network of deep wells that extract gases produced by decomposing organic waste, such as food scraps.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Great Parks said there will likely be a smell from decomposing organic material during this process.
—Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2024
Landfills produce methane when organic waste such as food scraps, paper and wood decompose without oxygen, creating the perfect environment for methane-producing bacteria.
—Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
The cardboard will decompose into the soil and keep your path weed-free.
—Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2024
But with enough snow on top, the soil doesn't get so cold, which increases the activity of the microbes that decompose the organic matter in the permafrost.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024
Other people were shot and left to die in its hallways, maimed and crushed by tanks outside its gates, decomposing on side streets and in buildings.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Bamboo toilet paper decomposes quickly, so it can be composted easily.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Cate Brown, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Similar to oil and gas companies, landfill operators drill and construct a network of deep wells that extract gases produced by decomposing organic waste, such as food scraps.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Great Parks said there will likely be a smell from decomposing organic material during this process.
—Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2024
Landfills produce methane when organic waste such as food scraps, paper and wood decompose without oxygen, creating the perfect environment for methane-producing bacteria.
—Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
The cardboard will decompose into the soil and keep your path weed-free.
—Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2024
But with enough snow on top, the soil doesn't get so cold, which increases the activity of the microbes that decompose the organic matter in the permafrost.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024
Other people were shot and left to die in its hallways, maimed and crushed by tanks outside its gates, decomposing on side streets and in buildings.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Bamboo toilet paper decomposes quickly, so it can be composted easily.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decompose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near decompose
Cite this Entry
“Decompose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decompose. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decompose
verb
de·com·pose
ˌdē-kəm-ˈpōz
1
: to separate a thing into its parts or into simpler compounds
decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen
2
: to break down through chemical change : rot
Medical Definition
decompose
verb
de·com·pose
ˌdē-kəm-ˈpōz
decomposed; decomposing
: to separate into constituent parts or elements or into simpler compounds
decompose water by electrolysis
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