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Definitions for: Decay
[n] the organic phenomenon of rotting
[n] a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
[n] the process of gradually becoming inferior
[n] the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
[n] an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying; "the corpse was in an advanced state of decay"; "the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair"
[v] undergo decay or decomposition
[v] fall into decay or ruin; "The unoccupied house started to decay"
[v] lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current; as of particles in nuclear fission
Webster (1913) Definition: De*cay", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decayed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decaying.] [OF. decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, F. d['e]choir,
to decline, fall, become less; L. de- + cadere to fall. See
Chance.]
To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state,
to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste
away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or
disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes
decay; hopes decay.
Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where
wealth accumulates and men decay. --Goldsmith.
De*cay", v. t.
1. To cause to decay; to impair. [R.]
Infirmity, that decays the wise. --Shak.
2. To destroy. [Obs.] --Shak.
De*cay", n.
1. Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness,
prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection;
tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption;
rottenness; decline; deterioration; as, the decay of the
body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman empire;
a castle in decay.
Perhaps my God, though he be far before, May turn,
and take me by the hand, and more - May strengthen
my decays. --Herbert.
His [Johnson's] failure was not to be ascribed to
intellectual decay. --Macaulay.
Which has caused the decay of the consonants to
follow somewhat different laws. --James Byrne.
2. Destruction; death. [Obs.] --Spenser.
3. Cause of decay. [R.]
He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers,
is the decay of the whole age. --Bacon.
Syn: Decline; consumption. See Decline.
Synonyms: crumble, decline, decompose, decomposition, delapidate, disintegrate, disintegration, radioactive decay
See Also: action, activity, break, bust, caries, cavity, change, change integrity, corrode, corruption, decomposition, decomposition, decrease, decrement, dental caries, deteriorate, deterioration, dilapidation, disintegration, droop, eat at, erode, exponential decay, exponential return, fall apart, gnaw, gnaw at, go bad, impairment, molder, moulder, natural action, natural process, nuclear reaction, organic phenomenon, putrefaction, putrefaction, putrefy, rot, rot, rot, rotting, ruin, ruin, rust, spoil, spoilage, spoiling, tooth decay, unsoundness, wear, wear away, wear out, weather, wilt
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