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decomposition

[dee-kom-puh-zish-uhn]

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noun

the act or process of decomposing.

the state of being decomposed; decay.

Origin:
1650–60; probably < French décomposition, derivative of décomposer to decompose; see composition

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To decomposition

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Decomposition has a plethora of syllables.

So is dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Does it mean:

the estimation of something as valueless (encountered mainly as an example of one of the longest words in the English language).

a white, crystalline, water-insoluble solid, C14H9Cl5, usually derived from chloral by reaction with chlorobenzene in the presence of fuming sulfuric acid: used as an insecticide and as a scabicide and pediculicide: agricultural use prohibited in the U.S.

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Example Sentences

Resnik, said the agency believed that some of the bodies could be identified despite decomposition.

High decomposition rates and low fossilization potential account for the meager number of actual fossils.

Empty fly pupa were found with the kids' remains, indicating that maggots ate their flesh during natural decomposition.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

decompose (ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz)

—vb
1.	to break down (organic matter) or (of organic matter) to be broken down physically and chemically by bacterial or fungal action; rot
2.	chem to break down or cause to break down into simpler chemical compounds
3.	to break up or separate into constituent parts
4.	(tr) maths to express in terms of a number of independent simpler components, as a set as a canonical union of disjoint subsets, or a vector into orthogonal components

decom'posable

—*adj*

decomposa'bility

—n

decomposition

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

decomposition

1762, noun of action from decompose.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

decomposition de·com·po·si·tion (dē-kŏm'pə-zĭsh'ən)
n.

The act or result of decomposing; disintegration.
Separation into constituents by chemical reaction.
The breakdown or decay of organic materials; lysis.

de·com'po·si'tion·al adj.

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

decomposition

(dē-kŏm'pə-zĭsh'ən) Pronunciation Key

The separation of a substance into simpler substances or basic elements. Decomposition can be brought about by exposure to heat, light, or chemical or biological activity.
The process of breaking down organic material, such as dead plant or animal tissue, into smaller molecules that are available for use by the organisms of an ecosystem. Decomposition is carried on by bacteria, fungi, protists, worms, and certain other organisms. See more at detritivore.

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