(condition of decay)

См. также в других словарях:

• decay — [dē kā′, dikā′] vi. [ME decaien < Anglo Fr & OFr decäir < VL * decadere: see DECADENCE] 1. to lose strength, soundness, health, beauty, prosperity, etc. gradually; waste away; deteriorate 2. to rot or decompose 3. to undergo radioactive… …   English World dictionary

• decay — decayable, adj. decayedness /di kayd nis, kay id /, adj. decayless, adj. /di kay /, v.i. 1. to become decomposed; rot: vegetation that was decaying. 2. to decline in excellence, prosperity, health, etc.; deteriorate. 3. Physics. (of a radioactive …   Universalium

• decay — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. decomposition, deterioration, disintegration, dilapidation, putrefaction, rot, caries. v. i. rot, putrefy, mortify; disintegrate. See oldness, uncleanness. II (Roget s IV) n. 1. [A progressive… …   English dictionary for students

• decay — 1 verb 1 (I, T) to be slowly destroyed by a natural chemical process, or to make something do this: The carcass was already starting to decay. 2 (intransitive often in progressive) if buildings, structures, or areas decay, their condition… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

• decay — de|cay1 [dıˈkeı] v [Date: 1400 1500; : Old North French; Origin: decaïr, from Late Latin decadere to fall, sink ] 1.) [I and T] to be slowly destroyed by a natural chemical process, or to make something do this →↑rot ▪ Her body was already… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

• decay — [dɪˈkeɪ] verb 1) [I/T] to be gradually destroyed as a result of a natural process, or to destroy something in this way As dead trees decay, they feed the soil.[/ex] Too much sugar will decay your teeth.[/ex] 2) [I] if a building or an area decays …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

• decay — I. 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… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• decay — [[t]dɪke͟ɪ[/t]] decays, decaying, decayed 1) VERB When something such as a dead body, a dead plant, or a tooth decays, it is gradually destroyed by a natural process. The bodies buried in the fine ash slowly decayed... [V ing] The ground was… …   English dictionary

• decay — de•cay [[t]dɪˈkeɪ[/t]] v. i. 1) mcr to become decomposed; rot 2) to decline in health, prosperity, etc.; deteriorate 3) phs (of an atomic nucleus) to undergo radioactive disintegration 4) mcr to cause to decompose; rot 5) mcr decomposition; rot… …   From formal English to slang

• decay — [15] The notion underlying decay and its close relative decadence is of a ‘falling off’ from 153 decline a condition of health or perfection. Decay comes from Old Northern French decair, a descendant of Vulgar Latin *dēcadere, which in turn came… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

• decay — /dəˈkeɪ/ (say duh kay) verb (i) 1. to fall away from a state of excellence, prosperity, health, etc.; deteriorate; decline. 2. to become decomposed; rot. 3. Physics a. (of a radioactive substance) to transform into a daughter product. b. (of an… …