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decomposer

 - 4 dictionary results

de⋅com⋅pos⋅er

  [dee-kuhm-poh-zer]
–noun
1. a person or thing that decomposes.
2. Ecology. an organism, usually a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down the cells of dead plants and animals into simpler substances.
Use decomposer in a Sentence
Origin:
1815–25; decompose + -er 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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de·com·pos·er   (dē'kəm-pō'zər)   
n.  An organism, often a bacterium or fungus, that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter, thus making organic nutrients available to the ecosystem.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: de·com·pos·er
Pronunciation: "dE-k&m-'pO-z&r
Function: noun
: any of various organisms (as many bacteria and fungi)that return constituents of organic substances to ecological cycles by feeding on and breaking down dead protoplasm
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Science Dictionary
decomposer   (dē'kəm-pō'zər)  Pronunciation Key 
See detritivore.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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