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; <
French décomposer, equivalent to
dé- dis-1 +
composer to
compose Related forms de·com·pos·a·ble, adjective
de·com·pos·a·bil·i·ty, noun
un·de·com·pos·a·ble, adjective
Synonyms1. distill, fractionate, analyze.
2. See
decay.