deteriorate
Use Deteriorate in a sentence
i verb (used with object), verb (used without object), de·te·ri·o·rat·ed, de·te·ri·o·rat·ing.
1.
to make or become worse or inferior in character, quality, value, etc.
2.
to disintegrate or wear away.
Origin:
1565–75; < Late Latin dēteriōrātus made worse (past participle of dēteriōrāre), equivalent to Latin dēterior worse (dē from + -ter- formative in adjectives of spatial orientation (cf. exterior, interior) + -ior comparative suffix) + -ātus -ate1
1565–75; < Late Latin dēteriōrātus made worse (past participle of dēteriōrāre), equivalent to Latin dēterior worse (dē from + -ter- formative in adjectives of spatial orientation (cf. exterior, interior) + -ior comparative suffix) + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
de·te·ri·o·ra·tive, adjective
un·de·te·ri·o·rat·ed, adjective
un·de·te·ri·o·rat·ing, adjective
un·de·te·ri·o·ra·tive, adjective
Synonyms
1. degenerate, decline, worsen.
1. degenerate, decline, worsen.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To deteriorate
00:10
Deteriorate
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is determinate. Does it mean:
| fixed and definite |
| not permanent; transitory. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
deteriorate (dɪˈtɪərɪəˌreɪt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to make or become worse or lower in quality, value, character, etc; depreciate |
| 2. | (intr) to wear away or disintegrate |
| [C16: from Late Latin dēteriōrāre, from Latin dēterior worse] | |
| deterio'ration | |
| —n | |
| de'teriorative | |
| —adj | |
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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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
deteriorate
1570s, from L.L. deterioratus, pp. of deteriorare "get worse," from L. deterior "worse," contrastive of *deter "bad, lower," from PIE *de-tero-, from demonstrative stem *de- (see de). Originally transitive in English; intransitive sense is from 1758.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
deteriorate de·te·ri·o·rate (dĭ-tēr'ē-ə-rāt')
v. de·te·ri·o·rat·ed, de·te·ri·o·rat·ing, de·te·ri·o·rates
To grow worse in function or condition.
To weaken or disintegrate.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
Adjustments must be made so that animals do not suffer and the island does not deteriorate.
Critics say that medical care will deteriorate if damages are capped.
It that is low enough to ensure that the engine performance won't deteriorate too quickly all should be well.
Consequently new populations are not being established as old sites deteriorate.
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