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decaying

 [dih-key]   Origin

de·cay

   [dih-key]
verb (used without object)
1.
to become decomposed; rot: vegetation that was decaying.
2.
to decline in excellence, prosperity, health, etc.; deteriorate.
3.
Physics. (of a radioactive nucleus) to change spontaneously into one or more different nuclei in a process in which atomic particles, as alpha particles, are emitted from the nucleus, electrons are captured or lost, or fission takes place.
verb (used with object)
4.
to cause to decay or decompose; rot: The dampness of the climate decayed the books.

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a fool or simpleton; ninny.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
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noun
5.
decomposition; rot: Decay made the wood unsuitable for use.
6.
a gradual falling into an inferior condition; progressive decline: the decay of international relations; the decay of the Aztec civilizations.
7.
decline in or loss of strength, health, intellect, etc.: His mental decay is distressing.
8.
Also called disintegration, radioactive decay. Physics. a radioactive process in which a nucleus undergoes spontaneous transformation into one or more different nuclei and simultaneously emits radiation, loses electrons, or undergoes fission.
9.
Aerospace. the progressive, accelerating reduction in orbital parameters, particularly apogee and perigee, of a spacecraft due to atmospheric drag.
Origin:
1425–75; (v.) late Middle English decayen < Old North French decair, equivalent to de- de- + cair to fall < Vulgar Latin *cadēre, for Latin cadere; (noun) late Middle English, derivative of the v.

Related forms
de·cay·a·ble, adjective
de·cayed·ness  [dih-keyd-nis, -key-id-] , adjective
de·cay·less, adjective
non·de·cayed, adjective
non·de·cay·ing, adjective
EXPAND
re·de·cay, verb
sem·i·de·cay, noun
sem·i·de·cayed, adjective
un·de·cay·a·ble, adjective
un·de·cayed, adjective
un·de·cay·ing, adjective
COLLAPSE

Synonyms
1. degenerate, wither; putrefy. Decay, decompose, disintegrate, rot imply a deterioration or falling away from a sound condition. Decay implies either entire or partial deterioration by progressive natural changes: Teeth decay. Decompose suggests the reducing of a substance to its component elements: Moisture makes some chemical compounds decompose. Disintegrate emphasizes the breaking up, going to pieces, or wearing away of anything, so that its original wholeness is impaired: Rocks disintegrate. Rot is a stronger word than decay and is especially applied to decaying vegetable matter, which may or may not emit offensive odors: Potatoes rot. 5. putrefaction. 7. deterioration, decadence, impairment, dilapidation, degeneration.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

decay
c.1460, from O.Fr. decair, from V.L. *decadere "to fall off," from L. cadere "to fall" (see case (1)). Meaning "gradual decrease in radioactivity" is from 1897.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

decay de·cay (dĭ-kā')
n.

  1. The destruction or decomposition of organic matter as a result of bacterial or fungal action; rot.

  2. Dental caries.

  3. The loss of information that was registered by the senses and processed into the short-term memory system.

  4. Radioactive decay.

v. de·cayed, de·cay·ing, de·cays

  1. To break down into component parts; rot.

  2. To disintegrate or diminish by radioactive decay.

  3. To decline in health or vigor; waste away.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
decay   (dĭ-kā')  Pronunciation Key 
Noun  

  1. The breaking down or rotting of organic matter through the action of bacteria, fungi, or other organisms; decomposition.

  2. The spontaneous transformation of a relatively unstable particle into a set of new particles. For example, a pion decays spontaneously into a muon and an antineutrino. The decay of heavy or unstable atomic nuclei (such as uranium or carbon-10) into more stable nuclei and emitted particles is called radioactive decay. The study of particle decay is fundamental to subatomic physics. See more at fundamental force, radioactive decay.


Verb   To undergo decay.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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