Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

decompose

 - 4 dictionary results

de⋅com⋅pose

  [dee-kuhm-pohz] verb, -posed, -pos⋅ing.
Use decompose in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to separate or resolve into constituent parts or elements; disintegrate: The bacteria decomposed the milk into its solid and liquid elements.
–verb (used without object)
2. to rot; putrefy: The egg began to decompose after a day in the sun.
Origin:
1745–55; < F décomposer, equiv. to dé- dis- 1 + composer to compose

Related forms:
de⋅com⋅pos⋅a⋅ble, adjective
de⋅com⋅pos⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun

Synonyms:
1. distill, fractionate, analyze. 2. See decay.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To decompose
de·com·pose   (dē'kəm-pōz')   
v.   de·com·posed, de·com·pos·ing, de·com·pos·es

v.   tr.

  1. To separate into components or basic elements.

  2. To cause to rot.

v.   intr.

  1. To become broken down into components; disintegrate.

  2. To decay; putrefy. See Synonyms at decay.

de'com·pos'a·bil'i·ty n., de'com·pos'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

decompose 
1762, from de- + compose. Sense of "putrefy" is first recorded 1777.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: de·com·pose
Pronunciation: "dE-k&m-'pOz
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -posed; -pos·ing
transitivesenses
: to separate into constituent parts or elements or into simpler compounds <decompose water by electrolysis> decompose intransitive senses
: to undergo chemical breakdown : DECAY, ROTdecomposes> —de·com·pos·abil·i·ty /-"pO-z&-'bil-&t-E/ noun plural -ties
—de·com·pos·able /-'pO-z&-b&l/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see decompose on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way