decay

Speech parts

1. decay - Noun

2. decay - Verb

Meaning

Destruction; death.

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.

To cause to decay; to impair.

To destroy.

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.

Cause of decay.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

decline decompose disintegration crumble moulder collapse breakdown degradation decomposition degenerate rot deteriorate disintegrate spoil decadence
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Antonyms

darwinism bloom can day development process
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Hypernyms

change action activity decrease decrement nuclear reaction

Hyponyms

moulder gnaw break weather wear corruption

Phrases with the word

moral decay dental decay fire decay alpha decay product geometric decay decay of personality

Derivatives

decayed decaying

Anagrams

acedy Dacey

Examples

He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery. Harold Wilson

When childhood dies, its corpses are called adults and they enter society, one of the politer names of Hell. That is why we dread children, even if we love them. They show us the state of our decay. Brian Aldiss

The interval between the decay of the old and the formation and establishment of the new constitutes a period of transition which must always necessarily be one of uncertainty, confusion, error, and wild and fierce fanaticism. John C. Calhoun

That which blossoms must also decay. Hindi Proverb

A reserve will not decay. Swahili Proverb

Beauty and money – they will go; learning and good manners – they never decay. Irish Proverb

Close letter words and terms

decaversary decavitation decawatt decay chain decay constant decay date