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deterioration

 - 4 dictionary results

de⋅te⋅ri⋅o⋅ra⋅tion

  [di-teer-ee-uh-rey-shuhn]
Use deterioration in a Sentence
–noun
1. the act or process of deteriorating.
2. the state or condition of having deteriorated.
3. a gradual decline, as in quality, serviceability, or vigor.
Origin:
1650–60; < LL dēteriōrātiōn- (s. of dēteriōrātiō), equiv. to dēteriōrāt(us) (see deteriorate ) + -iōn- -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To deterioration
de·te·ri·o·rate   (dĭ-tîr'ē-ə-rāt')   
v.   de·te·ri·o·rat·ed, de·te·ri·o·rat·ing, de·te·ri·o·rates

v.   tr.
To diminish or impair in quality, character, or value: Time and neglect had deteriorated the property.
v.   intr.

  1. To grow worse; degenerate: The weather deteriorated overnight. His health had deteriorated while he was in prison.

  2. To weaken or disintegrate; decay: The nation's highways are deteriorating at a rapid pace.


[Late Latin dēteriōrāre, dēteriōrāt-, from Latin dēterior, worse; see de- in Indo-European roots.]
de·te'ri·o·ra'tion n., de·te'ri·o·ra'tive 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.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: de·te·ri·o·ra·tion
Pronunciation: di-"tir-E-&-'rA-sh&n
Function: noun
: the action or process ofdeteriorating : the state of having deteriorated deterioration> deterioration>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

deterioration de·te·ri·o·ra·tion (dĭ-tēr'ē-ə-rā'shən)
n.
The process or condition of becoming worse.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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